I once tried the bulbs of Camassia. Whether C. leichtlinii or C. quamash, I don't know. Steamed them. They had the appearance, texture, and taste of library paste. You could survive on them, but it wouldn't be a gourmet's paradise. PS: one reads that the local Salish Indians rogued out xygadenus from the camas fields, and many references imply that zygadenus is only distinguishable from camas by havinga white flower color. That's nonsense written by people with no first-hand experience. The inflorescence of zygadenus is unmistakably different from that of camas, and it's not white anyway: it's a dirty yellow-green. The point of similarity and possibly lethal confusion lies in the resemblance of the dormant bulbs. I collected by dinner when it was in flower, btw. -- Rodger Whitlock Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Maritime Zone 8, a cool Mediterranean climate on beautiful Vancouver Island