Camassia scilloides

Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this 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[2]

Camassia esculenta
(Ker Gawl.) B.L.Rob.(nom. illeg.)

Camassia scilloides is a perennial herb known commonly as Atlantic camas, wild hyacinth,[1] and eastern camas.[3] It is native to the eastern half of North America, including Ontario and the eastern United States.[3]

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 to 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The superseded name Camassia esculenta (Ker Gawl.)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 Lindl., a superseded name for Camassia quamash subsp.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

  1. ^ a b NatureServe (5 May 2023). "Camassia scilloides". NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  2. ^ Rhodora 10: 31 (1908)
  3. ^ a b c Camassia scilloides. Flora of North America.
  4. ^ a b c d 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.
  5. ^ Camassia scilloides. Native American Ethnobotany. University of Michigan, Dearborn.
  6. ^ World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Camassia esculenta (Ker Gawl.) B.L.Rob.
  7. ^ World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Camassia esculenta (Nutt.) Lindl.

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