1. Camassia angusta (Engelm. & A. Gray)
Blank. (wild hyacinth)
Pl.
101 d; Map 406
Aerial stems (25–)40–110 cm long, with (1–)3–24 linear, bractlike leaves below
the lowermost flowers. Inflorescences with (30–)50–100 flowers (including
stalks remaining after spent flowers have fallen off). Perianth 7–10(–13) mm
long, deep to pale lavender to pale purple. Styles 2.5–5.5 mm long. Fruits
erect or nearly so, the stalks 5–20 mm long, arched upward. 2n=30. Early
May–late June.
Scattered in a diagonal band from the Unglaciated Plains Division to the
northeastern portion of the Glaciated Plains Division (Indiana, Illinois, and
Iowa southwest to Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas). Mesic
upland prairies and savannas, sometimes in rocky areas.
In areas where the two species occur together, the plants of C. angusta
bloom significantly later and have more purplish, deeply colored flowers than
those of C. scilloides.