Ethnobotany, Culture, Management, and Use of Common Camas

Abstract

Common camas (Camassia quamash (Pursh) Green [Liliaceae]) is one of the most culturally-significant food plants in the US Pacific Northwest. This perennial herb occurs in wet prairies and meadows and has been widely used for human food and trade, wildlife food, wetland plantings, and site restoration. We describe ethnobotanical uses for camas, methods for propagating it from bulbs and seeds, and management of existing stands.