Camassia scilloides
Species of flowering plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
| Camassia scilloides | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| 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 | |
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The superseded name Camassia esculenta (Ker Gawl.)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 Lindl., a superseded name for Camassia quamash subsp.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]
