Prairie camas

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Prairie camas

Prairie camas

Prairie camas

Morphology

Stem

Stemless; flowering stalk stout, from bulb; bulbs sometimes clustered, spherical, dark, scaly, .4 to 1.2 inch thick, about 3 inches below surface.

Leaves

Basal, appearing whorled, 3-11, linear, grass-like, 8-24 inches long, 1/5 to 4/5 inch wide, lowest 1/3 of blade keeled.

Inflorescence

Raceme, 10-34 inches, many flowered, terminal; bracts threadlike, about equaling flower stalks.

Flower

Symmetrical; perianth segments 6, pale blue to lavender, spreading, 1/4 to 2/5 inch long, 3- or 5-veined; stamens 6; anthers bright yellow; filaments threadlike, much longer than anthers; stigma distinctly 3-parted.

Fruit

Capsule, ovoid-oblong, 1/4 to 2/5 inch long, pale green to light-brown; seeds 2-5 per compartment, black; fruiting stalks usually upcurving-erect.

Ecology

Habitat

Moist prairies and open woods.

Distribution

East 1/3 of Kansas.

Practical Information

Uses

Native Americans used the bulbs as a food source. They were eaten raw, baked, roasted, boiled in soups, or dried for later use.

Additional Notes