bio.wikisort.org - Plant

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
Conservation status
Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)
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 (Ker Gawl.) B.L.Rob.(nom. illeg.)

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The superseded name Camassia esculenta (Ker Gawl.)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 Lindl., a superseded name for Camassia quamash subsp.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

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.

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