Family: Melanthiaceae
Author: Rydb.
Bibliography: Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 30:273. 1903
Year: 1903
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Anticlea
Vegetable: False
Observations: Subarctic America to Mexico (Chihuahua)
Description
White camas, known scientifically as Anticlea elegans, is a striking plant species that belongs to the family Melanthiaceae. This perennial herb is native to a wide geographical range extending from Subarctic America well into Mexico, including regions such as Chihuahua.
White camas is distinguished by its elegant and captivating flowers, which draw the eye in various habitats ranging from meadows to open woodlands. The plant typically features clusters of white, star-shaped flowers that possess a delicate and intricate beauty, making it a focal point in its natural environment. The leaves of Anticlea elegans are also notable for their slender, grass-like appearance, adding to the overall grace of the plant.
The scientific community recognized this species with formal documentation in 1903, as noted in the Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club, an authoritative source on botanical research. The species was described and classified by Rydb., whose work contributes significantly to our understanding of Melanthiaceae.
Intriguingly, White camas spans a broad latitudinal range, adapting to various climatic conditions from the cooler, subarctic regions down to the warmer zones of Northern Mexico. This adaptability showcases its resilience and the diverse ecological niches it can occupy.
Anticlea elegans is an excellent example of botanical elegance and adaptability, offering valuable insights into plant evolution, distribution, and the intricate beauty of North America’s flora.
Common Names
Eng: alkali-grass, mountain death camas, mountain deathcamas, white camas, glaucous death camas, smooth camas
Deu: jochblume
Swe: grönlilja
Fra: zigadène élégant, zigadène glauque
En: White camas, Alkali-grass, Mountain death camas, Alkali grass, Elegant camas, Mountain False Deathcamas, MOUNTAIN DEATHCAMAS, White deathcamas, Glaucous death camas, Smooth camas
Fi: Tähtililja
Fr: Zigadène élégant, Zigadène glauque
De: Jochblume, Zierliche Jochlilie
Sv: Grönlilja
Synonyms
- Zigadenus elegans (Pursh)
Distribution
- Alaska (native)
- Alberta (native)
- Arizona (native)
- British Columbia (native)
- Colorado (native)
- Idaho (native)
- Illinois (native)
- Indiana (native)
- Iowa (native)
- Maine (native)
- Manitoba (native)
- Maryland (native)
- Mexico Northeast (native)
- Michigan (native)
- Minnesota (native)
- Missouri (native)
- Montana (native)
- Nebraska (native)
- Nevada (native)
- New Mexico (native)
- New York (native)
- North Carolina (native)
- North Dakota (native)
- Northwest Territorie (native)
- Ohio (native)
- Ontario (native)
- Oregon (native)
- Pennsylvania (native)
- Québec (native)
- Saskatchewan (native)
- South Dakota (native)
- Tennessee (native)
- Texas (native)
- Utah (native)
- Vermont (native)
- Virginia (native)
- Washington (native)
- West Virginia (native)
- Wisconsin (native)
- Wyoming (native)
- Yukon (native)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Flower
Taken Jul 24, 2022 by Matt Reeder (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 26, 2022 by Allison Minx (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 26, 2022 by Allison Minx (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 29, 2019 by maryse ouimette (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 14, 2014 by EOL − Janelle Veenendaal (cc-by-nc)
Habit
Taken Aug 2, 2020 by Clara Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Apr 12, 2020 by xavier font (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 24, 2021 by Danielle Mccloy (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5295813)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:15844-2)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Anticlea elegans (Pursh) Rydb.)
Specifications
Growth habit: Forb/herb