Classification (APG IV)
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Aspargales
Family: Aspargaceae
Genus: Camassia
Species: Great camas - Camassia leichtlinii (Baker) S.Watson

Botanical Description
Great camas is a strong and robust perennial bulbous plant that grows to a height of 30–70 cm. The leaves are basal, long, and narrow, resembling grass leaves. The flowers of the prairie candle range in color from light blue to deep blue, with more than three flowers often blooming simultaneously in the inflorescence. Each flower has six tepals, six stamens, and three stigmas. The inflorescence is a raceme-like cluster of tightly arranged flowers, borne above the leaves on a leafless stem. [1,2]

Great camas can be distinguished from the Camassia leichtlinii ssp. suksdorfii by the following features: the flowers are slightly asymmetrical, with the lower tepal curving away from the stem; the stamens are brightly yellow; the plant is relatively short and sturdy, with shorter flower stalks and smaller bulbs; the leaves lack a waxy coating. The fruit is a barrel-shaped to triangular capsule that splits into three parts to release numerous black, angular seeds. [1,2]

Habitat
Great camas is native to North America and were named by Indigenous peoples, who used the starchy bulbs of certain species as food. The plants reached European gardens in the 19th century. Leichtlin’s prairie candle, named after a German horticulturist, has several cultivars. The semi-double-flowered "Semiplena," known for its sterile flowers, has an extended flowering period and is also an excellent cut flower. "Sacajawea" features large creamy white flowers and white-green striped foliage. [1]

Uses and Properties
The starchy bulbs of the plant were used as vegetables by several Indigenous peoples, including Native Americans. The plant has been found to contain saponins with cytotoxic activity against human oral cancer cells. As a beautiful flower that lasts well as a cut flower, Leichtlin’s prairie candle is frequently used in floral arrangements. [1]

References
1. Beckwith, B. R. (2004). The Queen Root of This Clime: Ethnoecological Investigations of Blue Camas (Camassia leichtlinii (Baker) Wats., C. quamash (Pursh) Greene; Liliaceae) and its Landscapes on Southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia. University of Victoria. https://dspace.library.uvic.ca/handle/1828/632 (01.10.2023).
2. United States Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). Plant materials [PDF file]. Retrieved from https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/plantmaterials/orpmcpg13212.pdf

Süstemaatiline kuuluvus (APG IV)
Riik: Taimed (Plantae)
Klaad: Soontaimed (Tracheophyta)
Klaad: Katteseemnetaimed (Angiospermae)
Klaad: Üheidulehelised (Monocotyledon)
Selts: Asparilaadsed (Asparagales)
Sugukond: Asparilised (Asparagaceae)
Perekond: Preeriaküünal (Camassia)
Liik: Leichtini preeriaküünal - Camassia leichtlinii (Baker) S.Watson

Botaaniline kirjeldus
Preeriaküünl on tugev ja robustne mitmeaastane sibultaim, mis kasvab 30-70 cm kõrguseks. Lehed juurmised, pikad ja kitsad, meenutavad kõrrelise lehti,  Preeriaküünla õied on helesinisest kuni sügavsiniseni; ühel ajal võib õisikus olla avatud rohkem kui kolm õit. Õitel on kuus õielehte, kuus tolmukat ja kolm emakasuud. Õisik on nagu tihedalt asetsevate õitega pöörisjas kobar, mis asub lehtedest kõrgemal lehtedeta varrel.[1,2]

Leichtini preeriaküünal eristub suurest preeriaküünlast(Camassia leichtlinii ssp. suksdorfii) järgmiste tunnuste poolest: õied on veidi ebasümmeetrilised, alumine õiekatteleht kõverdub varrest eemale; tolmukad on erksalt kollased; taim on suhteliselt lühike ja tugev, lühemate õievarte ja väiksemate sibulatega; lehtedel puudub vahajas kirme. Viljad on tünnikujulised kuni kolmnurksed kuprad, mis lõhenevad kolmeks osaks vabastades palju musti, kandilisi seemneid. [1,2]

Leviala
Looduslikult kasvavad preeria-küünlad Põhja-Ameerikas ja oma nime on nad saanud indiaanlastelt, kes kasutasid osade liikide tärkliserikkaid sibulaid toiduks. Euroopa aedadesse jõudsid taimed 19. sajandil. Saksa aedniku järgi nime saanud Leichtlini preeria-küünlal on mitmeid sorte. Valgete pooltäidisõitega "Semiplena" on tänu steriilsetele õitele väga pika õitseajaga ja püsib hästi ka lõikelillena vaasis. Suurte kreemikasvalgete õite ja valge-rohelisetriibulise lehestikuga on "Sacajawea".  [1]

Toime ja kasutamine
Taime tärkliserikkaid sibulaid kasutasid mitmed põlisrahvad, sh indiaanlased, köögiviljadena toiduks. On leitud taimes sisalduvate saponiinide tsütotoksiline aktiivsus inimese suuõõne kasvajarakkude vastu. Kuna Leictini preeriaküünal on kaunis ja toas hästi säiliv lõikelill, siis kasutatakse sageli lilleseadetes.  [1]

Kasutatud allikad
1. Beckwith, B., R.  (2004). The Queen Root of This Clime: Ethnoecological Investigations of Blue Camas (Camassia leichtlinii (Baker) Wats., C. quamash (Pursh) Greene; Liliaceae) and its Landscapes on Southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia. University of Victoria.  https://dspace.library.uvic.ca/handle/1828/632 (01.10.2023).
2. United States Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). Plant materials [PDF file]. Retrieved from https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/plantmaterials/orpmcpg13212.pdf