Difference between revisions of "Camassia"

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{{for|the plants called deathcamas|Melanthieae#former{{!}}Melanthieae}}
 
 
{{Automatic taxobox
 
{{Automatic taxobox
 
|taxon = Camassia
 
|taxon = Camassia
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|authority = [[John Lindley|Lindl.]]
 
|authority = [[John Lindley|Lindl.]]
 
|type_species = ''[[Camassia quamash]]''<br> (Pursh) Greene
 
|type_species = ''[[Camassia quamash]]''<br> (Pursh) Greene
|synonyms_ref=<ref name=jennie/>
 
 
|synonyms =
 
|synonyms =
 
* ''Stilla'' <small>W.Young</small>
 
* ''Stilla'' <small>W.Young</small>
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* ''Sitocodium'' [[Salisb.]]
 
* ''Sitocodium'' [[Salisb.]]
 
}}
 
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[[File:Camassia cusickii3.jpg|thumb|right|Cusick's camas (''Camassia cusickii'')]]
 
[[File:Camassia quamash at Leavenworth Ski Hill.jpg|thumb|right|Common camas (''Camassia quamash'' ssp. ''quamash'')]]
 
  
'''''Camassia''''' is a [[genus]] of plants in the [[Asparagaceae|asparagus family]] native to [[Canada]] and the [[United States]].  Common names include '''camas''', '''quamash''', '''Indian hyacinth''', '''camash''', and '''wild hyacinth'''.
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It grows in the wild in great numbers in moist meadows. They are [[perennial plant]]s with basal linear leaves measuring {{convert|8|to|32|in|cm}} in length, which emerge early in the spring. They grow to a height of {{convert|12|to|50|in|cm}}, with a multi-flowered stem rising above the main plant in summer. The six-petaled [[flower]]s vary in color from pale lilac or white to deep purple or blue-violet. Camas can appear to color entire meadows when in flower.
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[[Category:Asparagaceae]]
 
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[[Category:Plants for Keenan to eat]]
==Cultivation and uses==
 
''Camassia'' species were an important food staple for Native Americans and settlers in parts of the [[American Old West]]. Many areas in the [[Pacific Northwest|Northwest]] are named for the plant, including [[Camas Valley, Oregon]]; the city of [[Camas, Washington]]; [[Lacamas Creek]] in southern Washington,;<ref name=majors>{{Cite book| last = Majors | first = Harry M. | title = Exploring Washington | publisher = Van Winkle Publishing Co | year = 1975 | page = 120 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CoWrPQAACAAJ| isbn = 978-0-918664-00-6}}</ref> the [[Camas prairie#Idaho|Camas Prairie]] in [[North Central Idaho|northern Idaho]] (and its [[Camas Prairie Railroad]]); and [[Camas County, Idaho|Camas County]] in southern [[Idaho]].<ref>[http://www.idaho.gov/aboutidaho/county/camas.html Idaho.gov - Camas County] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120181632/http://www.idaho.gov/aboutidaho/county/camas.html |date=November 20, 2011 }} - accessed 2009-06-06</ref> Kamas, Utah, is another.
 
 
 
===Food use===
 
While ''Camassia'' species are edible and nutritious, the white-flowered [[deathcamas]] species (which are not in the genus ''Camassia'' but in a number of genera in the tribe [[Melanthieae]]) that grow in the same areas are toxic, and the bulbs are quite similar. It is easiest to tell the plants apart when they are in flower.
 
 
 
The quamash was a [[food]] source for many [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|native peoples]] in the western United States and Canada. After being harvested in the autumn, once the flowers have withered, the bulbs were pit-roasted or [[boil]]ed. A [[Earth oven|pit-cooked]] camas bulb looks and tastes something like baked [[sweet potato]], but sweeter, and with more crystalline [[Natural fiber|fibers]] due to the presence of [[inulin]] in the bulbs. The eating of too many such baked bulbs - especially if undercooked - can cause excessive [[flatulence]], due to their containing [[inulin]] and other [[oligosaccharides]].<ref>https://www.wnps.org/landscaping/documents/Common_camas.pdf</ref><ref>https://www.wnps.org/blog/appreciating-common-camas/</ref> When dried, the bulbs could be pounded into [[flour]]. Native American peoples who ate camas include the [[Nez Perce (tribe)|Nez Perce]], [[Cree]], [[Coast Salish peoples|Coast Salish]], and [[Blackfoot]], and Yakama among many others. The [[Kutenai people|Kutenai]] called the camas "'''xapi'''" ([[Kutenai language|Ktunaxa]]).<ref>{{Cite web
 
| title = FirstVoices- Ktunaxa. Plants: food plants: words.
 
| accessdate = 2012-07-07
 
| url = http://www.firstvoices.ca/en/Ktunaxa/word-category/e599527968bd1f59/--Plants---food-plants
 
}}</ref> Camas bulbs contributed to the survival of members of the [[Lewis and Clark Expedition]].<ref>Hunter, Frances. Nearly all the men Sick: Lewis and Clark meet the Camas Root" in Frances Hunter's American Heroes Blog. [https://franceshunter.wordpress.com/2011/07/26/nearly-all-the-men-sick-lewis-and-clark-meet-the-camas-root/] Accessed 2016/3/24</ref>
 
 
 
In the [[Great Basin]], expanded settlement by whites accompanied by turning cattle and hogs onto camas prairies greatly diminished food available to native tribes and increased tension between Native Americans and settlers and travelers.<ref>''The Shoshoni Frontier and the Bear River Massacre'', Brigham D. Madsen, forward by Charles S. Peterson, University of Utah Press (1985, paperback 1995), trade paperback, 286 pages, {{ISBN|0-87480-494-9}}</ref> Though the once-immense{{Citation needed|date=April 2012}} spreads of camas lands have diminished because of modern developments and agriculture, numerous [[camas prairie]]s and [[marsh]]es may still be seen today.
 
 
 
===Ornamental use===
 
This [[bulb]]flower naturalizes well in gardens. The bulb grows best in well-drained soil high in [[humus]]. It will grow in lightly shaded [[forest]] areas and on rocky [[outcrop]]s as well as in open [[meadow]]s or [[prairie]]s. Additionally it is found growing alongside [[stream]]s and [[river]]s. The plants may be [[Division (horticulture)|divided]] in autumn after the leaves have withered. Bulbs should be planted in the autumn. Additionally the plant spreads by [[seed]] rather than by [[Stolon|runners]].
 
 
 
==Taxonomy and species==
 
Historically, the genus was placed in the lily family ([[Liliaceae]]), when this was very broadly defined to include most [[lilioid monocot]]s.<ref name="FNA">{{Citation |first1=Tom A. |last1=Ranker |first2=Tim |last2=Hogan |first3= |last3= |title=Camassia |url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=105373 |accessdate=2012-05-16 |lastauthoramp=yes}}, in {{Citation |editor-last=Flora of North America Editorial Committee |year=1982 |title=Flora of North America ''(online)'' |publisher=eFloras.org |url=http://www.efloras.org/flora_page.aspx?flora_id=1 }}
 
</ref> When the Liliaceae was split, in some treatments ''Camassia'' was placed in a family called Hyacinthaceae (now the subfamily [[Scilloideae]]).<ref name=FernDavi91>{{Citation |last=Fernandez |first=A. |last2=Daviña |first2=J.R. |year=1991 |title=Heterochromatin and Genome Size in ''Fortunatia'' and ''Camassia'' (Hyacinthaceae) |journal=Kew Bulletin |volume=46 |issue=2 |pages=307–316 |jstor=4110602 |lastauthoramp=yes |doi=10.2307/4110602}}</ref> DNA and biochemical studies have led the [[Angiosperm Phylogeny Group]] to reassign ''Camassia'' to the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Asparagaceae]], subfamily [[Agavoideae]].<ref>{{citation |last=Stevens |first=P.F.  |title=Angiosperm Phylogeny Website: Asparagales: Agavoideae |url=http://www.mobot.org/mobot/research/apweb/orders/asparagalesweb.htm#Agavaceae }}</ref>
 
 
 
;Species
 
The [[World Checklist of Selected Plant Families]] recognizes six species {{as of|2015|April|lc=on}}:<ref name=jennie>{{Citation |title=World Checklist of Selected Plant Families |publisher=The Board of Trustees of the [[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]] |url=http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=301831 |accessdate=2015-04-10}}</ref><ref>[http://www.theplantlist.org/1.1/browse/A/Asparagaceae/Camassia/ The Plant List]</ref><ref>[http://bonap.net/NAPA/TaxonMaps/Genus/County/Camassia Biota of North America Progran 2013 county distribution maps]</ref>
 
 
 
* ''[[Camassia angusta]]'' <small>(Engelm. & A.Gray) Blank.</small> - prairie camas - southern [[Great Plains]] + mid-[[Mississippi Valley]] ([[Texas|TX]] [[Oklahoma|OK]] [[Louisiana|LA]] [[Arkansas|AR]] [[Missouri|MO]] [[Kansas|KS]] [[Iowa|IA]] [[Illinois|IL]] [[Indiana|IN]])
 
* ''[[Camassia cusickii]]'' <small>S.Watson</small> - Cusick's camas - northeastern [[Oregon]], west-central [[Idaho]]
 
* ''[[Camassia howellii]]'' <small>S.Watson</small> - Howell's camas - southwestern [[Oregon]]
 
* ''[[Camassia leichtlinii]]'' <small>(Baker) S.Watson</small> - large camas, great camas - [[British Columbia]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], [[Oregon]], northern + central [[California]], [[Washoe County, Nevada|Washoe County]] in [[Nevada]]
 
* ''[[Camassia quamash]]'' <small>(Pursh) Greene</small> - [[quamash]], Indian camas, small camas - western [[Canada]] ([[British Columbia|BC]] [[Alberta|AB]]), western USA ([[California|CA]] [[Oregon|OR]] [[Washington (state)|WA]] [[Nevada|NV]] [[Idaho|ID]] [[Montana|MT]] [[Wyoming|WY]] [[Utah|UT]])
 
* ''[[Camassia scilloides]]'' <small>(Raf.) Cory</small> - Atlantic camas, bear grass - eastern + Central North America from [[Maryland]] to [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], westward to [[Texas]] and north into [[Ontario]].
 
 
 
;formerly included<ref name=jennie/>
 
The name ''Camassia biflora'' was coined in 1969<ref>Cocucci, Alfredo Elio. 1969.  Kurtziana 5: 184</ref> for a South American species now known as ''[[Oziroe biflora]].''<ref>Speta, Franz. 1998. Phyton. Annales Rei Botanicae 38: 56</ref>
 
 
 
=== Synonyms ===
 
The term ''[[Camassia esculenta (disambiguation)|Camassia esculenta]]'' is a confusing one. Not an accepted name, it has been used twice, both for ''Camassia quamash'' and for ''Camassia scilloides''. Consequently, the reference to ''Camassia esculenta'' (Ker Gawl.) B.L.Rob.<ref>Rhodora 10: 31 (1908)</ref> as a synonym for ''C. scilloides'' is deemed [[Nomen illegitimum|illegitimate]],<ref>[http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=301839 World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: ''Camassia esculenta'' (Ker Gawl.) B.L.Rob.]</ref> while reference to ''Camassia esculenta'' (Nutt.) Lindl.<ref>Edwards's Bot. Reg. 18: t. 1486 (1832)</ref> is a non-accepted name ([[Synonym (taxonomy)|synonym]]) for ''C. quamash subsp. quamash''.<ref>[http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=301838 World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: ''Camassia esculenta'' (Nutt.) Lindl.]</ref> Hence the continuing horticultural usage without qualification is potentially confusing.<ref>[http://www.digdropdone.com/bulbs/camassia-camassia-quamash-camassia-esculenta.html Dig Drop Done]</ref>
 
 
 
==References==
 
{{Reflist|30em}}
 
 
 
==Further reading==
 
{{refbegin|2|indent=yes}}
 
: Brisland, Richard T. W. ''Camas processing or upland hunting : an interpretation of lithic scatters at High Prairie''. Calgary, Alb.: University of Calgary, 1992. Thesis (M.A.)
 
: Comber, Harold F.; Miller, Murray. ''Check list of the plants of the Camassia Natural Area : vascular plants''. [Oregon]: Oregon Chapter, The Nature Conservancy, 1967
 
: Coville, Frederick V. (1897). The technical name of the camas plant. ''Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington'' 11: 61-65.
 
: Gould, Frank W. ''A systematic treatment of the genus Camassia Lindl''. Notre Dame, Ind.: University Press, 1942.
 
: Konlande, J. E.; Robson, John R. (1972). The nutritive value of cooked camas as consumed by Flathead Indians. ''Ecology of food and nutrition'' 2: 193-195.
 
: Maclay, Anne M. ''Studies of the life history of Camassia quamash (Pursh) Greene''. Pullman, Wash., State College of Washington (Washington State University), 1928. Thesis (M.S.)
 
: Rice, Peter M.; Toney, J. Chris.; Cross, Marcia Pablo. ''Rehabilitation of camas and bitterroot gathering sites: study plan''. [Hamilton, Mont: Bitterroot National Forest: U.S. Forest Service], 1996.
 
: Smith, Harriet L. ''Camas: the plant that caused wars''. Lake Oswego, Or.: Smith, Smith and Smith Pub. Co., 1978.
 
: Stevens, Michelle L. and Darris, Dale C. [http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/pubs/orpmctn250300.pdf Plant Guide for Common Camas: Ethnobotany, Culture, Management, and Use]. Plant Materials Technical Note No. 25. (June 16, 2000) U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, Portland, Oregon, 2000.
 
: Stevens, Michelle L. and Darris, Dale C. [http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/pubs/orpmctn230999.pdf ''Ethnobotany, Culture and Use of Great Camas (Camassia quamash ssp. quamash)'']. Plant Materials Technical Note No. 23 (September 1999). U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, Portland, Oregon, 1999
 
: Storm, Linda. [http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~wallin/esci301/lindaSTORMarticle.pdf Patterns and Processes of Indigenous Burning] 2000
 
: Statham, Dawn Stram. ''Camas and the Northern Shoshoni: a biogeographic and socioeconomic analysis''. Boise, Idaho: Boise State University, 1982.
 
: Thoms, Alston V. ''The northern roots of hunter-gatherer intensification: camas and the Pacific Northwest''. Pullman, Wash.: Thesis (Ph. D.)--Washington State University, 1989.
 
: Toney, J. Chris. ''Traditional plant restoration: restoration of camas & bitterroot gathering sites (phase I-year 1 progress report)''. [Hamilton, Mont: Bitterroot National Forest: U.S. Forest Service], 1997
 
{{refend}}
 
 
 
==External links==
 
* [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=105373 Camassia] from Flora of North America
 
* [http://www.campusecology.wsu.edu/page_029.htm Camas Meadows] at [[Washington State University]]
 
* [http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/oregon/preserves/art6795.html Camassia Natural Area (Oregon)] - [[Nature Conservancy]]
 
* [http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/northcarolina/preserves/art5634.html Camassia Slopes Preserve (North Carolina)]- Nature Conservancy
 
* [http://www.nps.gov/nepe/site12.htm Camas Prairie in Idaho] from the [[National Park Service]]
 
* [http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/environment/culres/ethbot/a-c/Camassiaquamash.htm Camassia] from the Washington Department of Transportation
 
* [http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/greenacres/plants/wildhyth.html Native Plants of the Great Lakes] from the U.S. EPA
 
* [http://www.serpin.org/cfm/plantdetail.cfm?plantid=105 Southeastern Rare Plant Information Network - SERPIN]
 
* [http://www.wildflower2.org/NPIN/Plants/SNSearch.asp?Scientific_Name=camassia&submit.x=0&submit.y=0 Camassia] from the Native Plant Information Network
 
 
 
{{Commons category|Camassia}}
 
{{Wikispecies}}
 
{{wiktionary}}
 
 
 
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1810294}}
 
 
 
[[Category:Asparagaceae genera]]
 
[[Category:Edible plants]]
 
[[Category:Flora of North America]]
 
[[Category:Agavoideae]]
 
[[Category:Plants used in Native American cuisine]]
 
[[Category:Root vegetables]]
 

Latest revision as of 19:09, 20 August 2018

Camassia
Camassia-quamash.jpg
Indian camas (Camassia quamash)
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Agavoideae
Genus: Camassia
Lindl.
Type species
Camassia quamash
(Pursh) Greene
Synonyms

Acknowledgements

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Camassia, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.