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small camas
Scientific Name: Camassia quamash
Family: Liliaceae
Category: Monocot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Camassia quamash: An Overview
Camassia quamash, commonly known as camas, small camas, common camas, common camash, or quamash, is a perennial herb that graces meadows with its color when in bloom.
Considerations for Pets
- Death camas (Zigadenus venenosus) can be confused with edible camas bulbs, so proper identification is crucial.
Considerations for Children
- Death camas (Zigadenus venenosus) can be confused with edible camas bulbs, so proper identification is crucial.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Camassia quamash (Pursh) Greene
- Common Names: Camas, Small Camas, Common Camas, Common Camash, Quamash, Indian Camas, Blue Camas, Swamp Sego
- Family: Asparagaceae (sometimes listed as Hyacinthaceae or Liliaceae)
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Taxonomic Rank: Species
- Synonyms: C. esculenta
- Subspecies:
- Camassia quamash subsp. quamash
- Camassia quamash ssp. breviflora (Synonym: Camassia quamash)
- Camassia quamash subsp. maxima
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to North America, particularly western Canada and the region from British Columbia to northern California, Alberta, and Wyoming.
- Found in moist meadows and on grassy slopes.
Morphological Characteristics
- Perennial herb.
- Common Camas (Camassia quamash ssp. breviflora) is a stout, robust plant, typically 12-28 inches (30-70 cm) tall.
- Bears racemes of pale blue flowers on tall stems.
- In small camas, five petals are carried more or less above a horizontal line, like a fan, while the sixth petal curves straight down.
Traditional Uses
- The camas bulb was an important food source for indigenous peoples of western North America, used for sustenance and trade.
Quirky Facts
- Camas can sometimes color entire meadows when in flower, creating a visually stunning effect.