Plants of the Camas Prairies Garden Site
Plants Currently Living in the Camas Prairie Garden Site:
Native plants that occur in the Puget Prairies:
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Yarrow
Achilles millefolium
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millefolium: "thousand leaved": This plant is the first plant medicinal plant known to be written about, used for divination as early as 4200 years ago in ancient China. These inconspicuous feathery plants have diaphoretic and hemostatic properties: causing a sweat, and stopping blood.
Dry(er) sunny areas, with well drained soil. Found alongside roads, in disturbed areas, in grassy rural areas, prairies, alpine areas, rocky ledges, and near the sea shore. Genetically complex and one to many species recognized.
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Kinnickinnik
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
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kinnickinnik:
kinnikinnik
smooth scleryphylous evergreen
northwest heather
sacred smoke
loves sunny slopes
colonizing entertwining
rootedness
spirally reaching for the
sun
Kinnickinnik likes the most open rocky exposed areas it can get in the Pacific Northwest. On the East side of the Cascades, however, Snowberrry favors the moister areas. Survival is a game of running from lacks to larders. Kinnickinnik is a sacred plant used in smoking mixtures with tobacco and other herbs.
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Bracken Fern
Pteridium aquilinum |
Braken fern is pretty much the most cosmopolitan plant on the planet, growing on 6 continents and many different ecosystems. When Mt. St. Helens erupted, Bracken fern was on of the first plants to return. Bracken fern pollen is often one of the first found in the pollen record after natural disasters. With that said, it grows in wet ditches to dry sites, low elevations to high. Bracken fern roots were an important staple in many Pacific NW first peoples communities. Its long starch roots made it especially valluable, and yet one more reasont inhibit ecological succession by utilizing intentional fires. |
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 Snowberry
Symphorocarpus albus
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Drier woodland sites, often on forest edges. within the camas prairie ecosystem, S. albus is found in the transition area between prairie and forest, this is especially appropriate because in this garden site, the snowberry is on the edge.
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Native plants that occur in woodland areas of western Washington:
Horsetail, Equisitum arvense
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hard to erradicate, why bother, especially if the area is supposed to be a wet area. I will only attempt if we can ammend the soil |
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Bigleaf Maple, Acer macrophyllum
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Removing a certain branch of the tree over the garden site will greatly enhance the site's potential as a prairie site because it will open that much more area to the southern sky. |
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Osoberry, Oemleria cerasiformis
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Growing nicely in the rear in the edge area. I will plant |
Non-native or invasive plants:
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Reed Canary Grass, Phalaris arundinaceae
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I will pull out, shouldn't be much of a problem, there is not much of it. |
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Canada Thistle, Cirsium arvense
Canada Thistle Baby
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I will try to harvest the roots to eat. I would like to try them. "Wha duar meddle wi me": This thorny invasive utilizes physical protection from herbivory, not phytochemical. Therefore, their leaves and roots are technically edible, though only the peeled stems and roots would be considered acceptable fare. |
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 turfGood ol' Turf
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We'll need a work party to tackle this one |
Recent Plantings of the Camas Prairie Garden Site:
Plants Donated by The Nature Conservancy:
| Picture and Scientific Name |
Botanical Information |
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Aquilegia formosa
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Common Name(s)
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Red Columbine, Western columbine
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Scientific Name
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Aquilegia Formosa
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Synonyms
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Aquilegia columbiana, Aquilegia truncata, Aquilegia wawawensis.
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Family Name
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Native Names
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Chehalis: ya′ri′siyans, “its good on your teeth”
Cowlitz: t’u′mts
Green River: tsu’dbsmus -or- tsi,sa,is
Quileute: k’li′lixlik “to make a scar” -or-
pē’itcabixa’a “red flowers”
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Form
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herbaceous perrenial to 1.3m tall from tap root, alternately divides a little, quite leggy, mostly hairles except near inflorescence.
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Leaves
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Deeply lobed or divided leaves, vaguely similar to ranunculus. Twice pinnate in 3’s, hairless to hairy abov, gloucous and paler below.
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Flowers
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Red and yellow drooping flowers with 5 red spur-like petals that are yellow inside and underneath,usually 2-5 flowers, sometimes more when conditions are favorable.
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Blooms
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Apr-Aug
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Fruits
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Pea-like pods with spreading tips and black wrinkled sees that spill out if you touch the plant when ripe.
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Ecology
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Moist woods and streamsides low to mid-elevations
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Range
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Alaska to Baja CA, W. Coast to Rockies.
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Edible Uses
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Medicinal Uses
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Outside of our area, this species has been used for “diarrhea, dizziness, aching joints and possibly venereal disease” (Pojar)
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Other Uses
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Milky pulp scraped from roots and used on sores to form a scar.
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Other Info
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Sources
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Pojar, Niehaus
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Aster curtus
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Common Name(s)
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White-top aster
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Scientific Name
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Aster curtus
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Synonyms
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Family Name
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Asteraceae
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Native Names
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Similar Species
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A. chilensis, A. oregeonensis
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Form
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Herbaceous perrenial, mostly unbranched, found in colonies of 50-200, spreading rhizomatously, flowering stems 12-25 cm tall
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Leaves
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Small, lanceshaped entire leaves
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Flowers
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White, very un-aster looking, as the petals are fewer than other asters
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Blooms
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Fruits
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Ecology
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Rare, prairies and meadows
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Range
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Puget sound area south into Oregon
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Edible Uses
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Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
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Other Info
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Listing: WA Sensitive, USFWS Species of Concern
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Sources
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DNR, Pojar,
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Castilleja hispida: red form
Castilleja hispida: yellow form
 Castilleja hispida journal
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yes |
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Clarkia amoena
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Common Name(s)
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Farewell-to-spring, Herald-of-summer, Summer’s darling
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Scientific Name
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Clarkia amoena
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Synonyms
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Family Name
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Onagraceae (Evening Primrose)
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Native Names
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Similar Species
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Form
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Annual from taproot, 10-100 cm tall, spreading to erect stems, unbranched or freely branching,
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Leaves
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Linear to lanceshaped, entire margin 2-7cm long
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Flowers
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Leaf buds erect, bursting from one side and bending back whole, 4 petals, bright pink to lavender with red splotches in center of petals, rest of petals lightening towards the center
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Blooms
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June-August
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Fruits
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Hairy pods, seeds rough and hairy
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Ecology
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Fairly dry, coastal to mid elevation, Coastal bluffs, prairies, meadows, forest edges.
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Range
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Extreme south BC west of Cascades south into N. California
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Edible Uses
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Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
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Other Info
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Named after Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (deadwhiteguy)
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Sources
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Pojar, Niehaus, Lyons
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Companula rotundifolia
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Common Name(s)
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Common harebell, Bluebells-of-scotland
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Scientific Name
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Companula rotundifolia
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Synonyms
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Family Name
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Native Names
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Known as “Blue rain flowers” in Haida, children were warned not to pick them or it would rain
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Similar Species
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C. lasiocarpa, C. piperi, C. latisepala
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Form
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10 to 80 cm tall, branched or unbranched, on to many flower stalks in clump
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Leaves
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Basal leaves heart shaped or oblong, usually withering before flowering, stem leaves linear and entire to irregularly toothed
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Flowers
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5 petaled beautiful bells, nodding 1.5-3 cm long
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Blooms
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June-August
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Fruits
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Nodding capsules that are porous, letting loose flattish seeds
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Ecology
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Sea level sometimes up to subablpine, grassy meadows, rocky areas, slopes, canyons, forest edges
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Range
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SE Alaska, south through Oregon and N. CA
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Edible Uses
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Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
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Other Info
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Sources
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Pojar, Lyons
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Danthonia californica
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Common Name(s)
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California Oat-grass
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Scientific Name
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Danthonia californica
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Synonyms
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Family Name
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Poaceae, Avenae tribe (Oat tribe)
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Native Names
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Similar Species
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D. intermedia, D. spicata
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Form
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Densely tufted grass, 5-60 cm tall
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Leaves
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Hairy leaf sheaths, spreading panicle branches (flower spike that flowers from bottom up)
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Flowers
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2-5 cm long, purple panicle, dense, tufted, usually large spikelets, few
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Blooms
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Fruits
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Ecology
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Rocky or sandy meadows or slopes, coastal to high elevations
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Range
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SW BC south
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Edible Uses
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Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
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Other Info
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Named after Etienne Danthione, a French 19th century botanist (deadwhiteguy)
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Sources
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Pojar
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Erigeron speciousus
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Common Name(s)
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Showy Fleabane, Large purple Fleabane
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Scientific Name
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Erigeron speciosus
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Synonyms
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Family Name
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Asteraceae
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Native Names
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Similar Species
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E. philadelphicus
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Form
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To 75 cm tall, may be branched near top, leggy bienniel or short-lived perrenial
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Leaves
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Entire, linear, all the way up stem, getting only gradually smaller at top
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Flowers
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Large composite blooms with up to 100 very narrow ray flowers, to 5cm across,
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Blooms
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May to September
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Fruits
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Ecology
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Low to moderate elevations, open meadows
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Range
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Mostly Western Washington , but also on east side of Cascades
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Edible Uses
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Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
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Other Info
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David Douglass collected seed that was grown in Britain
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Sources
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Lyons, Pojar
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Eriophylum lanatum
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yes |
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Erythronium oreganum
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Common Name(s)
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White Fawn Lily, Oregon Fawn Lily, Easter Lily
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Scientific Name
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Erythronium oregonum
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Synonyms
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Family Name
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Liliaceae
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Native Names
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Similar Species
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E. grandiflorum, E. montanum
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Form
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Herbaceous perrenial to 30cm tall from annually segmented corm
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Leaves
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Basal, twin, sometimes pale green, but most often green with mottled lighter green and darker brown, entire lanceolate to olong, smooth
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Flowers
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5 petaled lily flowers, white to pink petals, sometimes yellowish at the base, and brownish on the outside base, nodding flowers with petals that bend backwards (up).
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Blooms
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April-May
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Fruits
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Base-ball shaped rect capsules, notched at the tip
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Ecology
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Grassy meadows and forest openings, rocky and and sandy soils, low elevations
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Range
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Puget Sound south along west side down through Oregon into NW CA
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Edible Uses
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Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
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Other Info
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Segmented corms usually 10cm below growd
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Sources
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Lyons, Pojar, Niehaus
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Festuca idahoensis ssp idahoensis
Festuca idahoensis ssp. roemeri
Idahoe Fescue: Festuca idahoensis
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Common Name(s)
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Idaho Fescue
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Scientific Name
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Festuca idahoensis ssp roemeri, Festuca idahoensis ssp idahoensis
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Synonyms
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Family Name
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Poaceae (Grass), Festuceae tribe (Fescue)
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Native Names
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Similar Species
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F. occidentalis
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Form
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Tuffed perrenial grass, clumping
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Leaves
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Very narrow blades, F. idahoensis ssp idahoensis smooth when rubbed towards base of mature (tuft at least 2 seasons old) plant, F. idahoensis ssp roemeri jagged or rough when rubbed towards base of mature plant
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Flowers
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Tight thin panicles, 5-7.5cm long
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Blooms
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Fruits
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Ecology
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Open meadows, glacial outwash prairies, shrubb-steppe
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Range
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East and West of the Cascades, range north/south unknown
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Edible Uses
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Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
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Other Info
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We plant this all over the place, and this is one of the most common and important prairie enhancement plants that we utilize.
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Sources
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Pojar
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Fragaria virginiana
Wild Strawberry: Fragaria virginiana
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Common Name(s)
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Wild Strawberry
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Scientific Name
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Fragaria virginiana
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Synonyms
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Family Name
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Rosaceae
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Native Names
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Cowlitz: suspana′s, plant; suspa′n, berry
Swinomish: tcī′’ox
Puyallup-Nisqually: t;elαqu
Skokomish: t!a;qwē
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Form
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Herbaceous perrenial with creeping stems that root at contact with the ground.
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Similar species
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Fragaria vesca, Fragaria chiloensis
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Leaves
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3 lobed and crennate, palmately veined, often bluish green above, terminal teeth smaller and narrower than neighbors
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Flowers
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White, five-petaled, many yellow stamens in middle of saucer-shaped flower
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Blooms
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Mar-Aug
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Fruits
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Heart shaped red berries with small teardrop shaped seeds on the outside,
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Ecology
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Open woods, fields, and prairies from low to mid elevations
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Range
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Pacific states
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Edible Uses
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Berries edible and delicious, but often eaten by wildlife as soon as ripe. Pick the day they ripen.
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Medicinal Uses
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Astringent like other rose family members, dried leaves and stems good also for isotonic eye wash, douches and enemas
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Other Uses
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Other Info
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As a part of the coastal meadow culturally tended landscape, areas would have been burned, tilled, weeded selectively harvested, and owned to maximize effective of this and other favored plants
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Sources
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Pojar, Niehaus, Moore, Turner 2005
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Koeleria macrantha
Koeleria macrantha
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Common Name(s)
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Prairie Junegrass, Junegrass
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Scientific Name
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Koeleria macrantha
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Synonyms
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Family Name
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Poaceae (Grass)
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Native Names
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Similar Species
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K. pyrimidata
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Form
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Perrenial tufted grass
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Leaves
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Flowers
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Blooms
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Fruits
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Ecology
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Open meadows,
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Range
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US wide
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Edible Uses
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Seeds can be ground and used as hot cereal or as flour
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Medicinal Uses
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Has been used for treating lacerations
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Other Uses
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The leaf blades have been used for brooms and paintbrushes, and for strengthening mixtures to make adobe walls with
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Other Info
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Sources
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PFAF
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Lomatium triternatum
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Common Name(s)
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Narrow-leaved Desert Parsley, Lewis’s Lomatium
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Scientific Name
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Lomatium triternatum
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Synonyms
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Family Name
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Apiaceae (Carrot)
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Native Names
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Similar Species
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L. utriculatum, L. nudicaule
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Form
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To 60cm tall, but usually around 30 cm tall, flower stalk not divided,
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Leaves
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Feathery leaves, with long leaflets, each leaf dividing several times, with end leaflets quite long, longer, than L. utriculatum
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Flowers
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Round umbell shaped yellow flowers
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Blooms
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April-May
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Fruits
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Narrow oval shaped with narrow rings, thinner but similarlooking to sunflower hulls
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Ecology
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Grassy slopes, open areas, deserts, sage-brush-ponderosa pine zones, Columbia benches, and glacial outwash prairies
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Range
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BC to Cen. California, West side rarely through Great Basin
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Edible Uses
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Seeds aromatic and edible, Leaves roasted, and added to soups or as flavor, roots edible and a staple of Native Americans of many tribes
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Medicinal Uses
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Many medicinal uses of Lomatium sp: respiratory viruses, tincture for skin infections and for sore throat
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Other Uses
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Other Info
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Prominent early spring color of glacial outwash prairies of W. WA
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Sources
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PFAF, Lyons, Niehaus, Moore
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Lomatium utriculatum
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Lupinis albicaulis
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Common Name(s)
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Pine Lupine
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Scientific Name
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Lupinus albicaulis
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Synonyms
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Family Name
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Fabaceae
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Native Names
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Similar Species
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Lupinus nootkatensis
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Form
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35-100cm tall, herbaceous perrenial from thick taproot, fuzzy,
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Leaves
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Palmately divided 5-9 leaflets, fuzzy, alternate,
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Flowers
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Pea flowers on spike that are not arranged in whorles, banner pettal with yellow spot in middle, rest of flower whitish to purple.
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Blooms
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May-Aug
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Fruits
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Pea pods that explode shooting 2-12 black seeds.
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Ecology
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Open slopes, Prairies
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Range
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West side of Cascades and Sierra Nevadas
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Edible Uses
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Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
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Other Info
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In propagation, L. albicaulis is trickier to plant in tubes, or transplant from tubes than L. lepidus, and we have had problems at Shotwell’s Landing nursery with this plant going into dormancy and not returning. However, it has higher success than L. lepidus with being able to sow into plots, gather seed from the plots, and direct sow in enhancement plantings on the S. WA prairies.
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Sources
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Niehaus
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Lupinis lepidus
Prairie Lupine: Lupinus lepidus
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Common Name(s)
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Prairie Lupine, Elegant lupine
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Scientific Name
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Lupinus lepidus
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Synonyms
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Family Name
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Fabaceae
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Native Names
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Similar species
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Lupinus albicaulis, Lupinus nootkatensis,
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Form
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Short herbaceaous perrenial from taproot, alternate, hairy, 5-45 cm tall
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Leaves
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Palmate, 5-9 leaflets, fuzzy-hairy,
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Flowers
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Distinct whorls, in deep blue, pea flowers, top or “banner” pettal has a large white area in the middle of the blue
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Blooms
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June-Sept
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Fruits
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Pea pods that burst with black seeds.
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Ecology
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Prairies, open fields, alpine flats,
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Range
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Southern BC to N California
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Edible Uses
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None known, other species of Lupine known to contain toxic alkaloids, do not eat
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Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
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Other Info
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Sources
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Niehaus, Pojar, Lyons
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Microseris sp.
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yes |
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Plectritis congesta
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Common Name(s)
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Sea Blush
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Scientific Name
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Plectritis congesta
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Synonyms
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Family Name
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Native Names
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Similar Species
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Plectritis macrocera, Armeria meritima
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Form
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Annual, erect stem, 10-60cm tall, leafy stems
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Leaves
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Stalkless and oval shaped higher, short stalked and spoon shaped lower
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Flowers
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Tightly clustered pink flowers, looks like clover
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Blooms
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April-May
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Fruits
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Winged, falling out without opening,
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Ecology
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Seasonally wet meadows, grassy areas, rocky or gravelly soils,
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Range
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S BC down through NW California
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Edible Uses
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Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
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Other Info
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Sources
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Lyons, Niehause, Pojar
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Potentilla gracilis
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Common Name(s)
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Fivefinger cinquefoil
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Scientific Name
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Potentilla gracilis var. gracilis
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Synonyms
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Family Name
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Rosaceae
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Native Names
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Form
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Perrenial herb, with creeping stems, like strawberry, alternate,
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Leaves
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Leaves vaguely similar to Ranunculus sp. when young. Roughtly oblong-eliptic divided leaves, crenate to dissected, palmately divided, hairless and bright green above, silverish/hairy below
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Flowers
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Yellow, five heart-shaped petals, saucer to disc-shaped
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Blooms
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June-august
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Fruits
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Ecology
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Mostly coastal, many habitats, the only species west of the Cascades
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Range
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BC to Oregon, west of the Cascades
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Edible Uses
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Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
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Other Info
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Sources
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Ranunculus occidentalis
|
yes |
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Solidago missouriensis
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Common Name(s)
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Prairie Goldenrod
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Scientific Name
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Solidago missouriensis
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Synonyms
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Family Name
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Asteraceae (Aster)
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Native Names
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Similar Species
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Form
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Perrenial to 1.2 m tall
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Leaves
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Linear to lanceshaped leaves, serratednear tip of leaf, alternate
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Flowers
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Spike of bright yellow flowers in large triangle, hermaphrodite, polinated by insects, attracts beneficial insects and wildlife
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Blooms
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July-Sept
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Fruits
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Ecology
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Many soils, prairies, open areas, rocky areas, slopes
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Range
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Western North America
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Edible Uses
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Young new leaves edible raw or cooked
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Medicinal Uses
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Infusion of dried powdered herb is antiseptic
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Other Uses
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As a dye, mustard-orange-brown range from entire plant
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Other Info
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Sources
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PFAF
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Solidago spathulata
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Common Name(s)
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Coast Goldenrod
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Scientific Name
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Solidago spathulata
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Synonyms
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Family Name
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Asteraceae
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Native Names
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Similar Species
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S. canadensis
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Form
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To 40cm tall, erect stem, perrenial
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Leaves
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Linear, small, smooth margin, serrated near tip of leaf, alternate
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Flowers
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Erect spike of dense small yellow flowers, flowers hermaphroditic, pollinated by insects, attract wildlife
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Blooms
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June-September,
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Fruits
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Ecology
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Tolerant of sea spray, open areas, coastal sand dunes, to alpine areas
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Range
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Washington down to N. California
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Edible Uses
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Seeds used as thickener in soups, but so small might not be worth collecting, leaves edible cooked,
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Medicinal Uses
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Flowering stems hemostatic, antiseptic, and salve, leaves antiseptic, dried powdered leaves can be used with oil in a poultice for mumps
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Other Uses
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Dye: mustard-orange-brown color scheme
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Other Info
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Sources
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PFAF, Lyons
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Viola adunca
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| Common Name(s) |
Early-blue Violet |
| Scientific Name |
Viola adunca
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| Synonyms |
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| Family Name |
Violaceae |
| Native Names |
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| Similar Species |
V. proforma
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| Form |
To 15 cm tall, perrenial, short to long, slender rhizomes, usually stalkless early the season developing stem as long as 10 cm. |
| Leaves |
Oval-shaped to heart shaped, renulate leaf margin, hairy to hairless. |
| Flowers |
To 1.5cm long, 5 petals, deep blue to purple, bottom 3 petals purple and white striated with white base, top two angling back, darker and white bearded spurs half as long as lowest petal, 2 bracts at base of flowering stalk |
| Blooms |
April-August |
| Fruits |
Ripe melon shaped 3-chambered pods that become erect and split open when ripe with brown round numerous seeds |
| Ecology |
Tolerant of sea spray, open areas, coastal sand dunes, to alpine areas |
| Range |
Pacific States, very common |
| Edible Uses |
All violet leaves are edible and can be used in salads, ad potherbs or in tea. They are hight in vitamin C and quite tasty |
| Medicinal Uses |
Leaves and roots have been eaten by Makah women during childbirth, and the leaves are full of vitamin C |
| Other Uses |
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| Other Info |
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| Sources |
Pojar, Gunther, Niehaus, Lyons |
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Other Potential Plants:
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Common Name(s)
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Deltoid Balsamroot
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Scientific Name
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Balsamorhiza deltoidea
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Synonyms
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Family Name
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Asteraceae
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Native Names
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Form
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To 1 m tall, sunflower like, alternate, from giant taproot
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Leaves
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Triangular, wrinkle margined leaves, dark green and hairy, 1-2 small stem leaves
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Flowers
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Sunflower-like composite, yellow to 10 cm across, 1-2 blooms, smaller bloom lower
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Blooms
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Mar-July
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Fruits
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Sunflower-like hard gunpowder colored pointed oval shaped seeds,
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Ecology
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Rare on west side of Cascades, associated with Garry Oak Savanna, also in Eastside deserts such as around the Columbia Gorge
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Range
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Edible Uses
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I am fairly sure that the roots are edible, but couldn’t find anything in any of the sources that I consulted. The seeds can be roasted, and ground with the hull to add to other foods
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Medicinal Uses
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The whole plant is good for skin conditions, and the leaves are good for burns, sores, and ulcerations. The root can be used as an expectorant and a disinfectant, and is mildly immunostimulant.
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Other Uses
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The Okanagen stuffed the large hairy leaves in their mocassins in the winter to help keep their feet warm. They were also pinned to the feet of boys training to gain supernatural powers so that the boys could practice walking on them as long as they could without tearing them.
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Other Info
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Sources
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Pojar, Niehaus, Moore, Turner 1998, Lyons
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Common Camas, Cammassia quamash
 Camas Journal
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We need more just in case ours don't return next year
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Chocolate Lily, Fritilleria lanceolata
Fritilleria lanceolata journal
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Common Name(s)
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Chocolate Lily, Mission Lily, Rice Root
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Scientific Name
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Fritilleria lanceolata
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Synonyms
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Family Name
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Liliaceae (Lily)
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Native Names
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Similar Species
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Form
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30-60cm tall, sturdy glabrous perennial herb. Bulb composed of bulblets which look like rice, so nicknamed “rice root”
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Leaves
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Whorled leaves on stem; 1-2 whorls of 3-5 leaves, lanceolate and 5-15cm long. Sometimes alternate, lower stem naked
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Flowers
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6 petaled brownish flowers with mottled green and purple splotches. Metals tapered to end of petal from middle, to 2.5 cm across, hangs down, coloring provides camoflauge, sometimes several flowers to a flowering stem, sometimes single
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Blooms
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April
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Fruits
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Ecology
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Meadows, bluffs, grassy areas, open forests, low to mid-elevations (~1,600m) newer literature states rare and sensitive.
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Range
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Both sides of Cascades, Southern BC to coastal California mountain ranges
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Edible Uses
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Succulet bulblets taste similar to rice, only a bit bitter. Used by many Salish groups including: Squamish, Sechelt, Halq’emcylem, and straits Salish. Bulbs were steamed in pits, or more recently; boiled in metal pots.
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Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
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Other Info
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Sources
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Fritilleria camschatcensis
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Common Name(s)
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Northern rice root, Kamchatka fritillary, Black lily, Indian rice, Eskimo potato
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Scientific Name
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Fritilleria camschatensis
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Synonyms
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Family Name
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Native Names
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Similar Species
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Form
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To 60cm glabrous herbaceious perennial, scaly bulb with rice-like bulblets,
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Leaves
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3 main whorles of 5-9 lanceolate leaves, sometimes alternate, to 8cm long
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Flowers
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2-7nodding, widely bell-shaped flowers with 6 petals, light brown to brownish purple, petals have ridges, flowers to 3cm across, bad smalling to attract flies as pollinators
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Blooms
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May through July
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Fruits
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Upright, flat, 6 angled capsules without wings.
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Ecology
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Moist open places, meadows, wet (?) prairies, streambanks, along the shore or in salt marshes, from sea level to subalpine.
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Range
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Islands of WA north to BC
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Edible Uses
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The bulbs are edible cooked and raw, and grow close to the surface, and are easy to dig up. They have a slightly bitter taste accenting the taste of something akin to right rice. They have been used for food by virtually all NW peoples throughout the plant’s range. The bulbs have been steamed in cedar boxes, boiled shortly before mashing, baked in ashes, or eaten raw w/fish eggs, or combined in soups w/fish or meat. They are best dug up in Spring before flowering or in summer after flowering.
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Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
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Nodding Onion, Allium cernuum
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Important food bulb: educational |
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Garry Oak, Quercus garryana
Our Garry Oak
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Important tree, distinctive, we might just have room |
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Black-cap rasberrry, Rubus leucodermis
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Sun loving Rubus, unique delicious berries, for edge
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Thimbleberry, Rubus parviflorus
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Sun loving Rubus, for edge |
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Common Name(s)
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Death Camas
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Scientific Name
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Zygadenus venenosus
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Synonyms
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Family Name
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Liliaceae
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Native Names
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Chehalis: o′p’ -or- u′up’
Squaxin: ba′q’a’
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Form
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25-60 cm tall, erect stalk and leaves rising from onion-like bulb with black scales.
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Leaves
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basal, lance shaped, alternate, parallel veined, grooved, not longer than flower stalk, smaller leaves on flower stalk.
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Flowers
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creamy-white, six petaled, on flowering stalk, stamens longer than petals.
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Blooms
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May – July
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Fruits
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Ecology
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low to mid elevations, open fields, glacial outwash prairies, forest edges, and rocky edges
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Range
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W OR, WA, and BC, according to Pojar, maybe also on Eastside of Cascades, or in N. CA. I am fairly sure that I saw it blooming in early April of 2007 near the Ginko State Park near Vantage, WA.
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Edible Uses
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DO NOT EAT! DEADLY POISONOUS! Leaves and roots cause burning sensation to the tongue.
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Medicinal Uses
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Has been used internally as a violent emetic, but generally avoided due to its poisonous qualities. Externally it has been used by the Squaxin and Chehalis for bruises, sprains, boils, rheumatism, and general pain.
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Other Uses
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Other Info
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Great care has been taken not to accidentally harvest death camas with blue camas or other bulbs, often blue camas beds have been weeded of Death Camas because of this.
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Sources
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Pojar, Lyons, Gunther, Niehaus
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