APPEARANCE

The blue camas has onion-like bulbs with plants growing over 60 centimetres tall. It has blue flowers in the spring.

RANGE & HABITAT

This plant is found from southern B.C. to California, growing in meadows and grassy bluffs, often in garry oak meadows. Fire encourages more camas to grow; it takes away other plants competing with the camas. In B.C. this plant is found in the Georgia Depression ecoprovince.

LIFE CYCLE

The blue camas is a perennial herb. It blooms in May and June and can tolerate a dry summer.

ANIMAL USES

Domestic and wild hoofed animals like to eat the greens and farm pigs will eat the bulbs.

TRADITIONAL USES BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

The bulbs of the plant can be steamed in pits. A healthy sugar called “inulin” develops in the bulbs when they’re cooked. They can be eaten whole, or dried and pounded into flour.

Visit this online interactive learning tool, Seeing Through Watchers’ Eyes, to learn the SENĆOŦEN name and other stories about this being! We recommend a desktop computer or laptop for ideal viewing. 

• Simply open the link here: https://sierraclub.bc.ca/watcherseyes/ 
• Scroll down to the Prezi 
• Click “present” 
• And move your cursor to point 212 along the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen 

OTHER USES

Camas is planted as a decorative plant, and used as grazing for sheep and cows.

STATUS

COSEWIC: Not at Risk
CDC: Yellow

MORE INFORMATION

www.bcliving.ca

Photo: adrimcm