Camassia scilloides
Camassia scilloides is a perennial herb known commonly as Atlantic camas, wild hyacinth,[2] and eastern camas.[3] It is native to the eastern half of North America, including Ontario and the eastern United States.[3]
| Camassia scilloides | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Agavoideae |
| Genus: | Camassia |
| Species: | C. scilloides |
| Binomial name | |
| Camassia scilloides (Raf.) Cory. | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Camassia esculenta | |
Description
The species produces inflorescences up to half a meter tall from a bulb 1–3 centimetres (0.39–1.18 in) wide.[4] It has a few leaves each up some 20–60 cm (7.9–23.6 in) long.[4] The flowers have light blue or whitish tepals and yellow anthers. The green or brown capsule is up to a centimeter long[3] and divided into three parts.[4]
Uses
Native American groups used the bulbs for food, eating them raw, baked, roasted, boiled, or dried.[5] They can be used in place of potatoes, but could possibly be confused for poisonous deathcamas.[4]
Taxonomy
The superseded name Camassia esculenta (Ker Gawl.) B.L.Rob., (nom. illeg.)[6] should not be confused with Camassia esculenta (Nutt.) Lindl., a superseded name for Camassia quamash subsp. quamash.[7]
References
- Rhodora 10: 31 (1908)
- Camassia scilloides. NatureServe. 2012.
- Camassia scilloides. Flora of North America.
- Elias, Thomas S.; Dykeman, Peter A. (2009) [1982]. Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods. New York: Sterling. p. 65. ISBN 978-1-4027-6715-9. OCLC 244766414.
- Camassia scilloides. Native American Ethnobotany. University of Michigan, Dearborn.
- World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Camassia esculenta (Ker Gawl.) B.L.Rob.
- World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Camassia esculenta (Nutt.) Lindl.
External links
Media related to Camassia scilloides at Wikimedia Commons- Camassia scilloides. USDA PLANTS
- Jalava, J. V. 2013. Recovery Strategy for the Wild Hyacinth (Camassia scilloides) in Ontario. Ontario Recovery Strategy Series. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough.