camass

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | 700+ words | Copyright

camass or camas , any species of the genus Camassia (or Quamasia ), hardy North American plants of the family Lilaceae ( lily family), chiefly of moist places in the far West, where their abundance has given rise to various place names. The bulbs of the common camass ( C. quamash ) were a staple food of Northwestern Native Americans; it is now cultivated as an ornamental for its showy blue to white blossoms. Camass, or quamash, was the Native American name. An eastern camass is called wild hyacinth. The death camass ( Zygadenus venenosus ), with leaves poisonous to sheep, is similar in appearance but distinguishable by having three styles instead of six. Camass is classified in the division Magnoliophyta , class Liliopsida, order Liliales, family Liliaceae.

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