Camassia scilloides is a perennial herb known commonly as Atlantic camas, wild hyacinth,[1] and eastern camas.[2] It is native to the eastern half of North America, including Ontario and the eastern United States.[2]
Description
The species produces inflorescences up to half a meter tall from a bulb Template:Convert wide.[3] It has a few leaves, each up to Template:Convert long.[3] The flowers have light blue or whitish tepals and yellow anthers. The green or brown capsule is up to a centimeter long[2] and divided into three parts.[3]
Uses
Native American groups used the bulbs for food, eating them raw, baked, roasted, boiled, or dried.[4] They can be used in place of potatoes, but could possibly be confused for poisonous deathcamas.[3]
Taxonomy
The superseded name Camassia esculenta (Ker Gawl.) B.L.Rob., (nom. illeg.)[5] should not be confused with Camassia esculenta (Nutt.) Lindl., a superseded name for Camassia quamash subsp. quamash.[6]
References
- ↑ Camassia scilloides. NatureServe. 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Camassia scilloides. Flora of North America.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods{{#if:Elias|, Elias}. Sterling(2009). ISBN 978-1-4027-6715-9
- ↑ 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
- Template:Commons category-inline
- 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.