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small camas

Scientific Name: Camassia quamash ssp. quamash

Family: Liliaceae

Category: Monocot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Camassia quamash: An In-Depth Look

Camassia quamash, commonly known as camas, small camas, common camas, common camash, or quamash, is a perennial herb that can create stunning displays of color in meadows when in bloom.

Considerations for Pets

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

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Camassia quamash (Pursh) Greene
  • Common Names: Camas, Small Camas, Common Camas, Quamash, Indian Camas, Utah small camas, Walpole's small camas, Swamp Sego, Blue Camas, Wild Hyacinth
  • Family: Hyacinthaceae (also listed as Liliaceae and Asparagaceae)
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Taxonomic Rank: Species
  • Synonyms: C. esculenta, Camassia quamash ssp. breviflora (listed as a synonym for Common Camas)
  • Subspecies: Camassia quamash (Pursh) Greene subsp. quamash, Camassia quamash ssp. breviflora, Camassia quamash ssp. maxima

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to North America.
  • Found in western Canada, from British Columbia to northern California, Alberta, and Wyoming.
  • Typically grows in moist meadows and on grassy slopes.
  • Also grows in Central and Northern California, primarily in the Warner Mountains.

Ecological Role

  • Information about EDDMapS (Early Detection &amp Distribution Mapping System) is available from The University of Georgia - Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, indicating its importance for tracking distribution.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Perennial herb.
  • Common camas (Camassia quamash ssp. breviflora) is described as a stout, robust plant, 12-28 inches (30-70 cm) tall.

Traditional Uses

  • Camas bulbs were an important "root" food for western North American indigenous peoples.
  • Cultivation, processing, and trade of camas bulbs were significant practices for sustenance and trade.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Death Camas (Zigadenus venenosus) is a species that can be confused with edible Camas.

Quirky Facts

  • One unique characteristic of Camassia quamash flowers is the arrangement of petals: five petals are generally held above a horizontal line, resembling a fan, while the sixth petal curves downwards.