SafePlants

Camassia quamash: An Overview

Camassia quamash, commonly known as camas, small camas, common camas, common camash, or quamash, is a perennial herb with edible bulbs native to North America.

Considerations for Pets and Children

• This plant arises from an edible bulb. It is important to positively identify before foraging in order to avoid confusing it with death camas (Zigadenus venenosus), which is toxic.

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, wild hyacinth
• Family: Liliaceae (commonly known as the lily family), Asparagaceae, Agavaceae (mentioned in context of North America - Indigenous)
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Taxonomic Rank: Species
• Subspecies: Camassia quamash subsp. quamash, Camassia quamash ssp. breviflora
• Synonyms: C. esculenta, Camassia quamash ssp. breviflora

Distribution and Habitat

• Camassia quamash is native to North America, found in moist meadows and on grassy slopes.
• Specifically, it is found from British Columbia to northern California, Alberta &amp Wyoming, western Canada, and Central and Northern California (primarily in the Warner Mountains).

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Camassia quamash is a perennial herb.
• Camassia quamash ssp. breviflora is described as a stout, robust plant, 12-28 inches (30-70 cm) tall.
• It blooms in early to mid-spring.
• In Camassia quamash, five petals are carried more or less above a horizontal line, like a fan, while the sixth petal curves straight down.
• The flowers of meadow death-camas are creamy-white with a shape that resembles a bell or saucer they are smaller than the flowers of common camas.

Historical and Traditional Uses

• The cultivation, processing, and trade of the camas bulb is a prime example of how Indigenous peoples used native plants to sustain themselves and for trade.
• The bulbs are edible.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Death camas (Zigadenus venenosus) can be confused with edible camas bulbs and is toxic.

Quirky Facts

• Camassia quamash can color entire meadows when in flower.
• One can find illustrations of Camassia Quamash (Small Camas) bearing racemes of pale blue flowers on tall stems.