Description: This native perennial wildflower
consists of a low rosette of basal leaves up to 1½' across and a
flowering stalk about 1½–2' tall. The floppy basal leaves are 6-12"
long and 1/3" across; they are medium green, linear in shape, parallel-veined,
glabrous, and smooth along their margins. Along the
underside of each
basal leaf, there is a prominent mid-rib. The erect central stalk is slender,
light green, and glabrous; it terminates in a spike-like raceme of flowers that
is several inches in length. Each flower is ¾–1" across, consisting
of 6 tepals, 6 stamens with bright yellow anthers, and a green central ovary
with a slender style. The tepals are light blue-violet to nearly white; they
are narrowly oblong in shape and spread widely from the center of the flower.
Each tepal (petal or petal-like sepal) has about 3 veins along its length. At
the base of each flower, there is a single linear bract up to ¾" long
that is soon deciduous. The slender pedicel of each flower is about the same
length as the bract. The flowers begin to bloom from the bottom of the raceme
and continue to bloom upward toward the apex; each flower lasts only 2-3 days.
The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring and lasts about 2-3 weeks.
Each fertilized flower is replaced by a 3-celled seed capsule that is about
1/3" in length and as much across. Each seed capsule contains many small seeds
that are black and shiny. The basal leaves turn yellow and wither away by
mid-summer. The root system consists of a bulb with fibrous roots. This
wildflower reproduces by reseeding itself.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun to light
shade, moist conditions, and rich loamy soil. Wild Hyacinth is slow to develop,
but fairly long-lived. Vegetative growth and development occurs during the cool
weather of spring, when adequate moisture is essential.
Range & Habitat: Wild Hyacinth is found
occasionally throughout Illinois (see
Distribution
Map). Habitats include moist black soil prairies, moist savannas, moist
open woodlands (particularly along the banks of streams), rocky wooded slopes,
and limestone glades. This species is typically found in high quality habitats,
whether prairies or woodlands.
Faunal
Associations: The flowers attract their fair share of insects,
including many bees and flies and occasional butterflies and wasps. Most of
these insects seek nectar from the flowers, although some short-tongued bees
also collect pollen. Bee visitors include honeybees, bumblebees, Cuckoo bees
(Nomada spp.), and Halictid bees (Halictus spp., Lasioglossum spp., etc.).
Other floral-faunal relationships are poorly understood. The foliage and bulbs
are not known to be toxic, but their consumption by wildlife appears to be
limited.
Photographic
Location: Along a woodland stream in Douglas or Coles County in
east-central Illinois.
Comments:
Wild Hyacinth has attractive flowers that are conspicuous during the spring. It
is usually found in woodland habitats, but also occurs in prairies. Wild
Hyacinth differs from the less common Camassia angusta (Prairie Hyacinth) in
several ways, among them: 1) It has slightly larger flowers than the latter, 2)
its flowers are usually a slightly lighter shade of blue-violet, 3) its seed
capsules are about as broad as long, while Prairie Hyacinth has seed capsules
that are slightly longer than broad, 4) the bracts of its flowering stalk are
less persistent than those of Prairie Hyacinth, and 5) it blooms earlier in the
spring.