small camas
ExplorePlants
small camas
Camassia quamash
Small camas is a pretty flower that grows in fields and meadows. It has bright blue petals and is loved by bees and butterflies. These flowers bloom in spring and are a special sight in nature!
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The small camas has tall, slender stalks topped with clusters of star-shaped flowers, usually a vibrant lavender-blue or white. Its narrow, grass-like leaves emerge from the base, making it visually distinct from its showy blooms.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderAsparagalesFamilyAsparagaceaeGenusCamassia
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
After wildfires, dormant camas bulbs can quickly sprout, helping to reseed and restore burned areas!
Each stalk can have dozens of beautiful, individual flowers, but each one only lasts about a day!
Its edible bulb looks just like the deadly poisonous 'death camas' bulb – so don't eat it raw!
Native Americans widely harvested and roasted camas bulbs, often in huge underground ovens!
Special abilities
Ability
Deep Bulb Power
Small camas has a deep underground bulb that stores energy, helping it survive fires and harsh winters.
Ability
Meadow Mover
Small camas can thrive in wet meadows and prairies, adapting its roots to various soil moistures.
Ability
Pollinator Beacon
Small camas clusters many vibrant, star-shaped flowers to create a bright target for busy insect pollinators.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 20-60 cm
- Spread
- 10-20 cm
- Flower Size
- 2-5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late spring to early summer
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
European Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Attracted to the nectar.
eats
Yellow-bellied Marmot
Marmota flaviventris
Bulbs are dug up.
eats
Elk
Cervus canadensis
Bulbs and foliage.
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Cluster Flower
Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem.
Spring Blooming
Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
Fragrant Flower
Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Do not eat any wild plants unless you are sure they are safe and have permission from an adult.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is small camas?
20-60 cm
How wide does small camas spread?
10-20 cm
How big are the flowers on small camas?
2-5 cm
When does small camas bloom?
Late spring to early summer
Is small camas edible?
Yes
Is small camas toxic?
None
What is small camas's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is small camas pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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