Camassia scilloides (Wild Hyacinth)

Camassia scilloides

Camassia scilloides (Raf.) Cory

Camassia esculenta (Raf.) Cory

Quamasia hyacinthina (Raf.) Britton

Wild Hyacinth, Atlantic Camas, Southern Wild Hyacinth

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Liliopsida	Monocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family
Subclass	Liliidae	Includes lilies, orchids, and many others
Order	Asparagales	A diverse group that includes asparagus
Family	Asparagaceae	Agaves, asparagus, hyacinths, and others
Genus	Camassia	From native American word Camas, for “sweet,” in reference to the importance of this plant as a food source
Species	scilloides	Resembling genus Scilla, a genus in the Lily family

About plant names...

These members of the lilly family are native to eastern North America.

Identification: Wild hyacinths grow to heights of 24" (60 cm). Leaves are long (to 15" (38 cm)) and narrow (less than ½" (1.3 cm)), clustered around the base. They are dull green on the top, shinier and deeper on the bottom. Flowers are arranged in conical clusters atop leafless stems. Each flower has six pale blue petals (technically tepals). The photo at right is too brightly colored to be wild—it is probably a cultivar.

	You are here Camassia scilloides
Common Name	Wild Hyacinth
Flowers	Flowers are pale blue, with six petals and six yellow-tipped stamens. By NoodleToo (WikiMedia)
Seeds	Dried fruits open to reveal black seeds. By NoodleToo (WikiMedia).
Fruit	By NoodleToo (WikiMedia)
Range/ Zones
Habitats	Moist rich prairies, savannas, or open woodlands or slopes, and limestone glades
Type	Wild