Camassia (Camas)
Camas is a perennial herbaceous plant prized for its edible bulbs and stunning blue-violet flowers. Ecologically, camas contributes to pollinator support and soil stabilization in wet meadows and grasslands. It is most commonly found in moist prairies, open woodlands, and seasonal wetlands.
Key identifying features include clusters of star-shaped blue to purple flowers on tall, slender stems and long, narrow grass-like leaves. Camas bulbs are small, round, and covered with a papery outer layer, resembling onions. It is crucial to distinguish camas from the toxic death camas.
Camas has been a vital food source for Indigenous peoples, including the Coast Salish, Yakama, and Nez Perce tribes. The bulbs were traditionally slow-roasted in earth ovens, which converted their inulin content into a sweet, digestible carbohydrate. Roasted bulbs were eaten fresh, dried for storage, or ground into flour. Beyond food, camas held cultural significance in ceremonies and trade networks. Its careful management through controlled burns and seasonal harvesting sustained camas populations for generations.