quamash
(kwəˈmæʃ, ˈkwɒmæʃ)
See also camas.
[N. American Indian.]
A North American liliaceous plant (Camassia esculenta), the bulbs of which are used for food by the American Indians. eastern quamash (see quot. 1868).
| 1814 Lewis & Clarke's Exp. (1893) 958 The Chopunnish are now dispersed in villages..for the purpose of collecting quamash. 1868 Rep. U.S. Commissioner Agric. (1869) 452 The plant [Camus] is otherwise known as the eastern quamash, or wild hyacinth, and in botanical nomenclature is Scilla Fraseri. 1882 Garden 13 May 323/3 The white Camassia..[is] not nearly so showy as the blue Quamash. |