Camassia is a genus that historically used to belong to the lily family (Liliaceae), the Scilloideae family, or the Hyacinthinaceae family. Lately, using DNA studies and biochemical techniques, the APG II-group has reassigned Camassia to the century plant family (Agavaceae).

Common names

• Camas
• Wild hyacinth
• Indian hyacinth
• Quamash

Species

• Camassia angusta - Prairie Camas
• Camassia cusickii - Cusick's Camas (occurs in Eastern Oregon)
• Camassia howellii - Howell's Camas
• Camassia leichtlinii - Large Camas, Great Camas (occurs west of the Cascade Mountains from British Columbia to the Sierra Nevada).
  • Camassia leichtlinii ssp. leichtlinii : Large Camas
  • Camassia leichtlinii ssp. suksdorfii : Suksdorf's Large Camas

Cusick's Camas (Camassia cusickii)

• Camassia quamash - Indian Camas, Small Camas.
  • Camassia quamash ssp. azurea : Small Camas
  • Camassia quamash ssp. breviflora : Small Camas
  • Camassia quamash ssp. intermedia : Small Camas
  • Camassia quamash ssp. linearis : Small Camas
  • Camassia quamash ssp. maxima : Small Camas
  • Camassia quamash ssp. quamash : Small Camas
  • Camassia quamash ssp. utahensis : Utah Small Camas
  • Camassia quamash ssp. walpolei : Walpole's small Camas (Western North America) The habitat extends south from British Columbia and Alberta to California then westward from Washington state to Montana and Wyoming.
• Camassia scilloides - Atlantic Camas, Bear grass (Eastern United States in North America) The habitat extends along the Atlantic states from Georgia and eastward to Texas. The upper midwest states of Michigan and Wisconsin are also included in the range.

Description

Camas grow in the wild in great numbers in moist meadows from Southern British Columbia to Northern California and east to Utah, Wyoming and Montana.

The plant has linear basal leaves which emerge early in the spring. It grows to 18-30 inches, with a multi-flowered stem rising above the main plant in summer.

The six-petaled flowers vary in color from pale lilac or white to deep purple or blue-violet. They sometimes color whole meadows blue-violet.

Cultivation

The bulb grows best in well drained soil high in humus. It will grow in lightly shaded forest areas as well as in open meadows or prairies. Additionally it is found growing alongside streams and rivers. The plants may be divided in autumn after the leaves have withered. Bulbs should be planted in the autumn as well. Additionally the plant spreads by seed rather than by runners.

Uses

Ornamental

This bulb is a perennial which naturalizes well.

Food source

 NOTE: Do not attempt to eat the bulb, as many members of the lily family are not edible. 

The Quamash was a food source for several native peoples in the western United States. The bulbs were harvested and pit-roasted or boiled by women of the Nez Perce, Cree, and Blackfoot tribes. They even kept alive the members of the expedition of Lewis and Clark (1804-1806).

Conservation and Restoration Projects

• Camas Meadows at Washington State University (http://www.campusecology.wsu.edu/page_029.htm)
• Camassia Natural Area (Oregon - Nature Conservancy) (http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/oregon/preserves/art6795.html)
• Camassia Slopes Preserve (North Carolina - Nature Conservancy) (http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/northcarolina/preserves/art5634.html)

Bibliography

• Brisland, Richard T. W. Camas processing or upland hunting : an interpretation of lithic scatters at High Prairie. Calgary, Alb.: University of Calgary, 1992. Thesis (M.A.)

• Comber, Harold F.; Miller, Murray. Check list of the plants of the Camassia Natural Area : vascular plants. [Oregon]: Oregon Chapter, The Nature Conservancy, 1967

• Coville, Frederick V. The technical name of the camas plant. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington; v. 11 (1897), p. 61-65.

• Gould, Frank W. A systematic treatment of the genus Camassia Lindl. Notre Dame, Ind.: University Press, 1942.

• Konlande, J. E.; Robson, John R. The nutritive value of cooked camas as consumed by Flathead Indians. Ecology of food and nutrition, v.2, (1972), p.193-195.

• Maclay, Anne M. Studies of the life history of Camassia quamash (Pursh) Greene. Pullman, Wash. : State College of Washington (Washington State University), 1928. Thesis (M.S.)

• Rice, Peter M.; Toney, J. Chris.; Cross, Marcia Pablo. Rehabilitation of camas and bitterroot gathering sites: study plan. [Hamilton, Mont: Bitterroot National Forest: U.S. Forest Service], 1996.

• Smith, Harriet L. Camas: the plant that caused wars. Lake Oswego, Or.: Smith, Smith and Smith Pub. Co., 1978.

• Stevens, Michelle L. and Darris, Dale C. Plant Guide for Common Camas: Ethnobotany, Culture, Management, and Use (http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/pubs/orpmctn250300.pdf). Plant Materials Technical Note No. 25. (June 16, 2000) U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, Portland, Oregon, 2000.

• Stevens, Michelle L. and Darris, Dale C. Ethnobotany, Culture and Use of Great Camas (Camassia quamash ssp. quamash) (http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/pubs/orpmctn230999.pdf). Plant Materials Technical Note No. 23 (September 1999). U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, Portland, Oregon, 1999

• Storm, Linda. Patterns and Processes of Indigenous Burning (http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~wallin/esci301/lindaSTORMarticle.pdf) 2000

• Statham, Dawn Stram. Camas and the Northern Shoshoni: a biogeographic and socioeconomic analysis. Boise, Idaho: Boise State University, 1982.

• Thoms, Alston V. The northern roots of hunter-gatherer intensification: camas and the Pacific Northwest. Pullman, Wash.: Thesis (Ph. D.)--Washington State University, 1989.

• Toney, J. Chris. Traditional plant restoration: restoration of camas & bitterroot gathering sites (phase I-year 1 progress report). [Hamilton, Mont: Bitterroot National Forest: U.S. Forest Service], 1997

ExternalLinks

• Camas Prairie in Idaho (http://www.nps.gov/nepe/site12.htm)
• Flora of North America (http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=105373)
• Washington Department of Transportation Ecology information (http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/environment/culres/ethbot/a-c/Camassiaquamash.htm)
• Native Plants of the Great Lakes (http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/greenacres/plants/wildhyth.html)
• Southeastern Rare Plant Information Network - SERPIN (http://www.serpin.org/cfm/plantdetail.cfm?plantid=105)
• Native Plant Information Network (http://www.wildflower2.org/NPIN/Plants/SNSearch.asp?Scientific_Name=camassia&submit.x=0&submit.y=0)