Asparagaceae – Asparagus Family
The Asparagaceae group seven families that were previously considered separate, comprising 114 varied genera and about 2900 species distributed worldwide. Like the Amaryllidaceae, until 2003 the species now classified as part of the Asparagaceae were separately classified as follows in Liliaceae. Although genetically related, defining physical characteristics across the entire family is challenging. A morphologically diverse family, most members are herbaceous perennials with long, simple, parallel veined leaves forming tight rosettes at the plant’s base or at the end of the stem. Many are geophytes, rooting from bulbs or corms. The flowers are showy and similar in appearance to lilies, with equal sepals and petals (also called tepals), and stamens arranged in multiples of three. The ovaries are of the superior type and generally have three compartments, which, when mature, transform into dry capsules. A black pigment called phytomelanin is found throughout the family and is responsible for the formation of deep black seed coats.
A wide variety of interesting plants are classified in this family, with many having great economic, horticultural, and cultural significance. Among the best known members of this family for their nutritional value are asparagus, agave, and cassava. Hostas, hyacinths, muscari, Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum), and snake plants (Sansevieria) are common indoor and outdoor horticultural specimens.
In Willamette Valley wetland prairies, members of the Asparagaceae have some of the most significant cultural importance that, in turn, influenced the area’s natural history. Four key genera are found in wetland prairies – Brodiaea, Camassia, Dichlostemma, and Triteleia – and all four of these produce starchy, nutritious bulbs and corms that were an integral part of Native American diets across the Pacific Northwest. In particular, starchy Camas bulbs were such a vital Kalyapua food staple that entire landscapes were managed to encourage their proliferation.
Brodiaea elegans ssp. elegans – Elegant Cluster Lily (Harvest Brodiaea)
Species Code: BREL
Habit: Showy perennial monocot growing from a round, scaly corm 2 centimetres across.
Leaves: 3 to 5 basal, grass-like leaves with parallel veins. Leaves senesce before flowers appear.
Stems: No true stems. Instead, the plant has smooth, round scapes ranging from 5 to 25 centimetres tall leading to inflorescence.
Flowers: 3 to 11 bell shaped flowers on a loose, umbel-like inflorescence. Dark to pinkish purple flowers have six curved sepals and petals atop 5 to 10 cm long. Pedicles. The centre of the corolla has three white, flattened, pointed staminode that are about a centimetre in length. In this whorl there are three stamens, accompanied by a lower ovary and a single style.
Fruits: Forms an oval capsule filled with small, egg-shaped black seeds.
Ecology: FACU, Facultative Upland Plant, Non-Hydrophyte. Most common in dry, upland prairies, meadows, or rocky bluffs, but occurs in wet prairies in the WV.
Notes: May be confused with Crown brodiaea (Brodiaea coronaria) when in flower, or other Brodiaea sp. in leafy stages. B. coronaria has staminoides developing much closer to the stamens with 1 to 5 centimetre long pedicels. This species was harvested for food across the Pacific Northwest and introduced to the United Kingdom as a horticultural species in rock gardens.
Camassia leichtlinii ssp. Suksdorfii – Tall Camas
Species Code: CALE
Habit: Showy perennial monocot. Raceme of many six-merous purple flowers emerges from long-lived bulb.
Leaves: Several linear to lanceolate, glabrous basal leaves with parallel veins.
Stems: Scapes range from about 10 to 30 inches (0.76 m) tall and increase in thickness with age.
Flowers: The inflorescence consists of a raceme of buds arranged in a spiral around the scape. Before opening, the tightly clustered buds almost resemble an asparagus stem. Colourful perianth parts display radial symmetry, with six lanceolate tepals with a purplish blue hue, however sometimes white or occasionally pink (although both are rare). Six bright yellow stamens are shorter than tepals, conspicuous anthers release sticky yellow pollen. The central style supports a three lobed stigma. Ovary superior. After blooming, purple tepals wither and tightly twist together to cover the fruit.
Fruits: Elongated, three chambered capsules are full of many shiny black seeds. Overtime, seed capsules go from being a fleshy green to dehydrated, hollowed out compartments that extend away from main stalk.
Ecology: FACW, Facultative Wetland Plant (hydrophyte), often found in wet prairies and forested wetlands or wet ash groves. Usually found in somewhat dryer habitats than Camassia quamash.
Notes: May be confused with the dark purple blossoms of Common Camas (C. quamash) which are typically shorter, bloom later, and often have 5 tepals arrayed in the top half of the flower with 1 tepal hanging below – although this last trait is not always a diagnostic morphological characteristic. What is more reliable for identification purposes is that withered C. leichtlinii flowers snugly coil around the emerging seed capsule. Moreover, unlike C. quamash, C. leichtlinii capsules spread out and away from the main stalk. Death Camas (Zigadenus venenosus) is easily differentiated when its raceme of small off-white flowers are in bloom, but is easily confused during harvest because bulbs of all three species appear so similar.
Camassia quamash ssp. Maxima – Common Camas.
Species Code: CAQU
Habit: Perennial monocot forb reaching 20 to 70 cm tall, flowering stalk taller than leaves.
Leaves: Linear, lanceolate leaves with parallel veins, growing from the plant base from a long-lived bulb.
Stems: Range from 4 to 28 inches (0.71 m) tall, and generally more slender and shorter than C. leichtlinii.
Flowers: The dense inflorescence consists of numerous blossoms attached to the main flower stalk by short pedicels at varying levels. Flowers of six tepals are a dramatic pale to deep blue colour, and 3 to 5 cm across. Where flower pedicels connect to the main stem, long green bracts are present. Tepals are not fully symmetrical, radiating unequally from the flower’s centre. The bottom-most petal is turned downward, with the other 5 extending upwards and horizontally around floral reproductive parts. Corolla withers separately and messily around the maturing ovary when it is done flowering. Flowers have six bright yellow stamens and anthers.
Fruits: Short, fat capsules with shimmering black seeds. When mature, Camassia quamash dries and darkens and capsules remain pressed close to the main senesced scape. As one walks through a spent population, dried capsules and many loose seeds let off a dry, snake-like rattle. The tops of capsules rupture when mature, exposing shiny black, teardrop shaped seeds that can be poured out or collected.
Ecology: FACW, Facultative Wetland Plant (hydrophyte), found in wet prairies or forested wetlands. Usually found in slightly wetter areas than Camassia leichtlinii.
Dichelostemma congested – Ookow
Triteleia hyacinthine – Fool’s Onion
Simpson, M., Plant Systematics, 2nd ed. Academic Press, Burlington, MA. 2010.
Angiosperm Phylogeny Group III (2009), “An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG III”, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 161 (2): 105–121, doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00996.x
Gilkey, H. (2001). Handbook of Northwestern Plants, Revised Edition. Oregon State University Press; Corvallis, OR. 66-68
Boyd, Robert. Ed. 1999. Strategies of Indian Burning in the Willamette Valley. In Indians, Fire, and the Land in the Pacific Northwest, pp. 94-138. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis.
Gilkey, H. (2001). Handbook of Northwestern Plants, Revised Edition. Oregon State University Press; Corvallis, OR. 69.
Cooke, Sarah Spear, Ed. A Field Guide to the Common Wetland Plants of Western Washington and Northwestern Oregon. Seattle Audubon Society. 1997. 99.
Pojar, J., Mackinnon, A., Editors (2004). Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Lone Pine Publishing, Vancouver, Canada. 107.
Guard, J. (1995). Wetland Plants of Oregon and Washington. Lone Pine Publishing, Edmonton, Alberta. 98.
USDA Plants Database: <https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CAQU>
City of Eugene, Parks Seed Collection Manual, Camassia quamash, 2009.
Pojar, J., Mackinnon, A., Editors (2004). Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Lone Pine Publishing, Vancouver, Canada. 337 107-108
City of Eugene, Parks Seed Collection Manual, Brodiaea elegans, 2009.
USDA Plants Database: <https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=BRELE>
City of Eugene, Parks Seed Collection Manual, Brodiaea elegans, 2009.
Gilkey, H. (2001). Handbook of Northwestern Plants, Revised Edition. Oregon State University Press; Corvallis, OR. 69.
USDA Plants Database: <https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CALE>
City of Eugene, Parks Seed Collection Manual, Camassia leichtlinii ssp. Suksdorfii, 2009.
Gilkey, H. (2001). Handbook of Northwestern Plants, Revised Edition. Oregon State University Press; Corvallis, OR. 69.
Cooke, Sarah Spear, Ed. A Field Guide to the Common Wetland Plants of Western Washington and Northwestern Oregon. Seattle Audubon Society. 1997. 99.
Pojar, J., Mackinnon, A., Editors (2004). Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Lone Pine Publishing, Vancouver, Canada. 107.
Guard, J. (1995). Wetland Plants of Oregon and Washington. Lone Pine Publishing, Edmonton, Alberta. 98.
USDA Plants Database: <https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CAQU>
City of Eugene, Parks Seed Collection Manual, Camassia quamash, 2009.
