2. Camassia scilloides (Raf.) Cory (wild hyacinth)

Pl. 101 c; Map 407

C. scilloides f. petersenii Steyerm.

C. scilloides f. variegata Steyerm.

Aerial stems 15–75 cm long, with 0–2(–5) linear, bractlike leaves below the lowermost flowers. Inflorescences with 7–50(–85) flowers (including stalks remaining after spent flowers have fallen off). Perianth 7–17 mm long, pale blue to pale lavender to nearly white. Styles 4–8(–11) mm long. Fruits broadly ascending to nearly horizontal, the stalks 8–30 mm long, straight to somewhat arched upward. 2n=30. Early April–mid-May.

Scattered nearly throughout Missouri, most commonly in the Ozark Division, but absent from the Mississippi Lowlands Division (eastern U.S. west to Minnesota and Texas). Mesic bottomland to upland forests, savannas, stream banks, bluff ledges, mesic bottomland to upland prairies, glades (mostly calcareous); also along roadsides and in old fields.