BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Camassia quamash | Common Camas 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Common camas is a native perennial forb.  Its peduncle is from 8 to 20
inches (20-50 cm) in height and supports a terminal raceme.  The
peduncle and basal leaves attach to a bulb that is up to 1.5 inches (6
cm) across.  Its roots are fibrous.  The fruit is a three-celled capsule
with 5 to 10 seeds per cell [12,13,23].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Geophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Common camas reproduces from seed and bulb offsets [18,22].  Clones
flower at age 2 or 3 years [18].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Common camas grows on sites that are moist to wet in spring but dry by
late spring or summer [4,6,8,12,25].  It is commonly found near vernal
pools, springs, and intermittent streams [10].  It occurs at elevations
ranging from sea level to 7,000 feet (2,134 m) in California [13] and
from 6,240 to 7,950 feet (1,890-2,410 m) in Utah [25].

Associated species in the Intermountain region are snowberry
(Symphoricarpos albus), bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata),
Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis), Douglas grass-widow (Sisyrinchium
douglasii), Hooker balsamroot (Balsamorhiza hookeri), rush pussytoes
(Antennaria luzuloides), Wyeth buckwheat (Eriogonum heracleoides), and
western yarrow (Achillea millifolium) [17].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Facultative Seral Species

Common camas is shade intolerant [10].  In forested areas, it is found
on open sites created by disturbance.  In grasslands and meadows, it is
most prevalent in initial and early seral communities but also occurs in
later seres [1,10,22].


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Common camas flowers from May to July, depending upon elevation and snow
cover [4,9,12].  Leaves die and seeds are dispersed from late May to
August [22].

Related categories for Species: Camassia quamash | Common Camas