This occurs mostly on calcareous soils from the Gulf Coastal Plain to the southern Great Lakes, and is usually reported from open woods, fields and prairies (e.g. Yatskievych 1999; FNA 26). However, genetic variation is considerable, and more robust, later flowering plants typical of open habitats from Ill. to Texas can be segregated as C. angusta (Engelm. & Gray) Blank. (Fishbein et al. 2010). Within Ky. Camassia is most common in moderate shade, often on steep rocky slopes, where it can flower as early as late Apr on warmer aspects, where plants tend to be most abundant. But it also appears to have been widespread on uplands of the Bluegrass region before settlement; flowering here is generally later, mostly in early to mid-May. Occasional plants in woodland-pastures or more open areas may be persistent remnants of more shady woods woods (e.g. at the "Julian Savanna" of FRAN, "Griffith Woods" of HARR and other old woodland pastures). Short (1828-29) noted: "Frequent in moist meadows in certain localities, but generally disappearing upon culture." Camassia (2n = 30) is allied with Agavoideae (2n = 60 in general) rather than Scilloideae (AP). Its species were well known to native peoples in North America for their edible bulbs. Bulbs in C. scilloides are usually 15-30 cm deep, which may well reflect selection due to herbivory by mammals. But pigs probably dug out much during the early period of settlement, when there was extensive open range for livestock. Also, foliage is often browsed by rabbits (pers. obs.) and deer (J. Lacefield, pers. comm.), and it may have been consumed by cattle and other livestock. A early common name for this species, as well as more western members of the genus, was "beargrass"; Beargrass Creek in JEFF was probably named after this species (see notes at bluegrasswoodland.com). The species remains locally abundant there in Cherokee Park, and dense stands occur elsewhere on slopes of Silurian dolomitic limestone in foothills of the Knobs from west to east. Curiousy, the species was not listed (or any synonym) for the JEFF area by McMurtrie (1819), but his was a primordial list, excluding some other notable vernal woodland herbs (e.g. Cardamine, Erythronium, Hepatica, Jeffersonia).