About Camus Flowers & Bulbs

The perennial herbaceous camas is becoming increasing popular as an ornamental addition to flower gardens. The bulbs of the plant were once a staple food of native peoples of the American Northwest, who practiced sustainable harvest methods and cultivated the moist meadows that were the native habitats of the plant to facilitate its survival.

Types

Members of the lily family, the Camassia genus consists of five or more species, some of which are further divided into subspecies and are known by the common names: camas, camas lily, Camassia, kamas, quamas, quamash, quamassia, small camas and swamp sego. The most popular species, planted as an ornamental in U.S. gardens, is the edible Camassia quamash. Its name is simply the Latinized version of what Native Americans called the plant, kamas.

Identification

This popular species of camas can be recognized growing in its natural habitat by its star-shaped, pale to deep blue flowers in early spring and summer. The bulbs grow solitary or in clusters and are spherical to egg-shaped and are normally a darkish brown. The long, narrow deep green leaves of the Camassia quamash are basal, meaning they grow from the base of the stem, arising directly from the rootstock. The flowers generally have six petals and resemble a sextuple blue star.

Features

A camas is best propagated by division, as seeds require approximately a three-month refrigeration period to germinate, and plants grown from seed can take several years to produce their first flowers. When used as an ornamental in flower beds, it is important to remember that once the camas has completed blooming--in the proper environment--the plant itself dies back until the following year. Therefore, the gardener may want to accommodate for the vacant space left behind by planting them near later blooming perennials.

History

The starchy bulbs of the Camassia quamash were second only to salmon as a staple in the diets of early Native Americans of the Northwest and were prepared for consumption in various ways, much the same as the potato is today in American diets. The Nez Perce of Idaho introduced the camas as a food to members of the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804 to 1806, and the explorers reported that it helped sustain them through that portion of their journey.

Warning

For those with an interest in native foods, it is important to learn to identify the plant properly, as another member of the lily family, the Zigadenus venenosus, or death camas has been confused with the edible camas, as they both thrive in similar environmental conditions. The death camas, also known as Nuttalli's camas, poison onion and zigadene, is a common prairie flower. Yet, all parts of the plant are poisonous. The flower petals of the death camas are yellowish-white or cream-colored, and are more rounded than the blue petals of the edible camas. The distinguishable characteristics between the two can be determined with a bit of effort and education.

References

• "The Plant Book: An Encyclopedia of Worldwide Flora 3800 Species in 2100 Genera"; Susan Olds and Margaret Page, editors; 2003
• Washington State University: Camas
• e Floras: Camassia in Flora of North America @ efloras.org
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Native Plant Database
• Oregon State University: Camus, Camus Bulbs - Food Resource