Camassia

Camassia
Indian camas (Camassia quamash)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Agavoideae
Genus: Camassia
Lindl.
Type species
Camassia quamash
(Pursh) Greene
Synonyms[1]
  • Stilla W.Young
  • Cyanotris Raf.
  • Bulbedulis Raf.
  • Kweetla Raf.
  • Lemotrys Raf.
  • Quamasia Raf.
  • Sitocodium Salisb.
Cusick's camas (Camassia cusickii)
Common camas (Camassia quamash ssp. quamash)

Camassia is a genus of plants in the asparagus family native to North America. Common names include camas, quamash, Indian hyacinth, camash, and wild hyacinth.[citation needed]

It grows in the wild in great numbers in moist meadows. They are perennial plants with basal linear leaves measuring 20 to 80 centimetres (8 to 32 in) in length, which emerge early in the spring. They grow to a height of 30 to 130 cm (12 to 50 in), with a multi-flowered stem rising above the main plant in summer. The six-petaled flowers vary in color from pale lilac or white to deep purple or blue-violet. Camas can appear to color entire meadows when in flower.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference jennie was invoked but never defined (see the help page).