SafePlants

Camassia quamash: A Detailed Overview

Camassia quamash, commonly known as camas, small camas, common Utah small camas, and Walpole's small camas, is a perennial herb belonging to the family Hyacinthaceae (also sometimes classified under Liliaceae).

Considerations for Pets

• The text mentions "Death Camas" growing near Sego Lily, which is a consideration when identifying edible plants.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Camassia quamash (Pursh) Greene
• Family: Hyacinthaceae (or Liliaceae)
• Synonyms: C. esculenta Lindl.
• Subspecies:
  • Camassia quamash ssp. quamash (Pursh) Greene – small camas
  • Camassia quamash ssp. utahensis Gould – Utah small camas
  • Camassia quamash ssp. walpolei – Walpole's small camas
  • Camassia quamash ssp. azurea – small camas
• Common Names: Camas, Small Camas, Utah Small Camas, Walpole's Small Camas, Quamash, Wild Hyacinth, Indian Camas.

Distribution and Habitat

• Camassia quamash is native to North America.
• It is found in the USA, specifically in Idaho (ID), Montana (MT), Oregon (OR), Utah (UT), and Wyoming (WY).
• Its range extends eastward to southwest Alberta, Montana, Wyoming, and Utah, from southern British Columbia to northern California.
• The Utah small camas (Camassia quamash ssp. utahensis) is found in Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Colorado.
• It thrives in areas with rainfall between 16 and 55 inches and prefers damp, wet locations.

Morphological Characteristics

• Camassia quamash is a forb/herb type plant.
• It is a perennial, meaning it lives for more than two years.
• The Utah small camas is small in size and assumes a green coloring in winter.
• It is an evergreen plant, retaining its leaves year-round.
• It blooms in mid-spring, producing blue flowers.

Ecological Role

• The plant is mentioned as being Native to Utah.
• The plant is noted for "Naturalizing bulbs," and loves damp, wet areas.

Additional Information

• The allergen potential of Camassia quamash (small camas Utah small camas Walpole's small camas) is rated as medium-low.
• Camassia quamash is associated with the Liliaceae plant family.
• The Sego Lily is the state flower of Utah and is related to the Blue Camas.

Quirky Facts

• The name "Kamas" (a city in Summit County, Utah) is speculated by some to have originated from a species of wild duck, the Camas ducks, which nested in the area.

Resources

• British Database of World Flora and Fauna
• USWildflowers Database
• Utah Plant Database
• MyTreeDB