Camassia leichtlinii
great camas
Description:
Stem erect, sturdy.
Basal leaves linear, shorter than stem.
Flowers many, in spike at stem top, few open at one time but do not open out flat. Flower pale blue, purple, or white; pollen dull yellow to violet; petals twist as they dry to cover seeds as they mature.
Grows in wet, soggy, deep soils at mid elevations.
Rarity: Locally Common
Flowering Time: Mid Spring
Life Cycle: Perennial
Height: to 48 inches
Habitat: West-Side Forest, Bog/Fen/Wetland, Meadow
Found In: West Gorge And Western Oregon., Crater Lake Np
Native: Yes
Differences between the Great camas and Common camas:
Bloom time - Common camas blooms earlier (April to early May), while the Great camas blooms later in May to June.
Habitat Preferences - Common camas tends to like drier meadows and higher elevations while Great camas thrives in seasonally wet meadows, lowland prairies, and areas with clay-rich soils
Geographical Range - Common camas has a wider range growing as East as Montana, while the Great camas has a strong presence in coastal, lowland areas, mostly west of the Cascades
Visual Differences - Common camas has smaller, denser clusters of flowers, while the Great camas has a larger, more open flower with occasional slight fragrance
