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| ## indian rice {#indian-rice .Title-Header}                           |
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| *Fritillaria camchatcensis* (L.) Ker-Gawl                             |
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| Plant Symbol = FRCA5                                                  |
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### *Contributed By: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center*

## Alternative Names

Kamchatka lily, rice root, black lily, Mission bells

## Uses

*Ethnobotanic*: Virtually all Northwest Coast peoples of British
Columbia and southeast Alaska ate the bulbs of "Indian rice," which
resemble tight clusters of white rice. The bulblets grow relatively
close to the surface and are easily extracted. They were dug up in the
spring (before flowering), in the summer, or the fall (after flowering)
using a digging stick, a wooden spade, or fingers. They were cooked
immediately, or could be partially dried, then stored in a cool place
for winter use. They were cooked for about 30 minutes in a cedarwood
box, by boiling for a short time then mashing to a paste, or
occasionally, by baking in ashes. Indian rice bulbs were used as an item
of trade. Even when cooked, they are slightly bitter, and some people
soaked them in water overnight to reduce the bitter flavor.

## Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status, such as, state noxious status
and wetland indicator values.

## Description

*General*: Lily Family (Liliaceae). *Fritillaria camchatcensis* is a
tall herbaceous perennial growing from a white bulb surrounded by
numerous, tightly clustered rice-like bulblets. The stems are 20-50 cm
tall, sturdy and unbranched, bearing 1-3 whorls of 5-11 lance-shaped
leaves. The flowers of Indian rice are bell-shaped and nodding, each
with greenish-brown to brownish- purple tepals, sometimes streaked with
yellow. The flowers have a disagreeable odor. The capsules are angled
and many seeded. The species are attractive in native garden, but are
fast disappearing from much of their
range.![](media/image2.png){width="2.6958333333333333in"
height="3.3743055555555554in"}

## Distribution

Indian rice grows in moist areas, from tidal flats to wet meadows, from
Alaska to western Washington. Indian rice grows in prairies and grassy
bluffs to woodland and coniferous forests from near sea level to above
5,000 ft. in elevation. It occurs from British Columbia to Oregon. In
Washington, riceroot grows on both sides of the Cascades, but it only
grows on the west side in Oregon. Riceroot extends east from British
Columbia and Washington to northern Idaho. For current distribution,
please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web
site.

## Establishment

*Fritillaria camchatcensis* has become quite uncommon in the wild. In
addition, salt marsh, estuarine wetland, and freshwater wetland habitat
has declined by over 90 percent throughout much of the United States.
Wild harvesting for non-traditional use should be restricted to salvage
sites with appropriate approvals and permits.

*Fritillaria* species are frequently found in areas with soil moisture
persisting throughout most of the growing season. It is often found on
coarse-grained soils of glacial origin. Riceroot tolerates shade, but
prefers sun. *Fritillaria* propagates readily from seed, and the
rice-like bulblets can be used for propagation. This species grows well
in well-drained, loam soils that are neutral to slightly acid.

### Live Plant (Bulb) Cultivation

*Fritillaria* species have bulbs that do well in moist shade. Bulbs may
be planted in pots or in a greenhouse bed or bulb frame. It is best to
store *Fritillaria* bulbs in slightly moist bark, peat, shredded wood,
or some other material. Buy the bulbs as early as possible before they
begin to grow. Bulbs tend to deteriorate or rot if kept too long.

Plant bulbs in soil that is rich in nutrients and humus and also retains
moisture. Incorporate plenty of leafy mold or some other organic matter,
such as well-rotted manure or compost, before planting. Acid-loving
woodland bulbs thrive in the peat garden, where at least half the soil
is leaf mold, peat, or compost.

Bulbs in containers should not be allowed to dry out when growing and
should be fed regularly with a high-potassium fertilizer to boost flower
production. Wait until seeds have set and foliage begins to senesce
before lifting bulbs out of soil, then clean them and store them in a
cool, moist place. Watch bulbs to prevent them from rotting or being
affected by a fungal disease.

Bulbs can increase naturally by forming bulblets around the bulb (the
"rice" in "Indian rice"). Propagate the bulbs by separating these
bulblets from the mother bulb and planting them. Bulbs should be
separated every year or two.

### Seed Propagation

This species grows readily from seed. Most bulbs take 3-5 years to reach
mature flowering stage. *Fritillaria* species do not flower regularly
even in nature, and so are described as "shy-flowering." Collect seed
immediately when capsules are ripe, as they split and seeds may be shed
quickly. Let the seeds dry without heat, and store them until sown in
labeled paper packets in a cool, dry, airy place. Do not use plastic
bags, as the seeds are likely to rot.

The best times to sow seeds are fall, but if seed is available earlier,
sow immediately. Germination should follow in early spring.

The recommended potting soil for seed germination and emergence is a
commercial sand-based mix; with one-quarter part coarse sand added if
the mixture does not have a sandy appearance. Space large, flat seeds of
*Fritillaria* one seed's width apart. Sieve a light covering of the soil
mix over the seeds so that they are no longer visible and then cover
with a generous layer of grit or aquarium gravel. Label the pots with
the plant name, seed source, and date. Stand the pots in a shady place
in the open garden, or plunge them in a sand frame, and keep them moist.

When the seedlings have germinated, bring the pots into full light in a
cold frame or greenhouse. Keep them moist until they show definite signs
of dying down, and then water them very sparingly. *Fritillaria*
seedlings should be kept slightly moist during this senescent period.
Start watering again in early fall, or as soon as there is new growth,
and keep the pots watered until the growth dies down. Leave most bulbs
for two growing seasons before repotting, unless they grow vigorously.
Larger bulbs are formed if these seedlings are fed the second year. Use
a commercial liquid feed as used for tomatoes, but at half the
manufacturer's recommended strength. After two years, remove the bulbs
from the pots after they have died back. Separate out the bulblets,
clean them gently, and repot them in clean, moist soil. For
*Fritillaria* species, use a soil mix of one part sterilized leaf mold,
one part peat or compost, and one part sterilized soil, with a further
1.5 parts of coarse horticultural sand or seed-grown perlite. It is
better to grow seedlings in pots for 3-4 years before planting them
outside.

## Management

*Traditional resource management* of Indian rice includes the following
(Turner and Deur 1999):

-   Ownership of individual patches and their output by chiefs, ensuring
    long-term care and enhancement of plant production.

-   Root feasts as a means of redistributing plant wealth and meeting
    ceremonial obligations.

-   Specialized digging sticks as a harvesting tool to cultivate and
    turn over the soil.

-   Harvesting at a set time of year before or after plants have set
    seed.

-   Regular use of same sites over time/generations.

-   Care and assiduity in harvest.

-   Turning of the soil or sod.

-   Replanting and leaving bulblets behind, to re-grow the following
    year.

-   Weeding root patches.

-   Individual patches and landscapes were burned regularly.

## Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

FRCA2 is somewhat available through native plant nurseries within its
range. Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service
(formerly Soil Conservation Service) office for more information. Look
in the phone book under "United States Government." The Natural
Resources Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading
"Department of Agriculture."

## References

Abrams, L. 1940. *Illustrated flora of the Pacific states. Vol. I.
Ophioglossaceae to Aristolochiaceae*. Stanford University Press,
Stanford University, California. p. 423.

Brickell, C. & E. McDonald (eds.) 1993. *The American Horticultural
Society encyclopedia of gardening. The definitive practical guide to
gardening techniques, planning, and maintenance*. Darling Kindersten.

Gunther, E. 1945 rev. 1973. *Ethnobotany of western Washington*.
University of Washington Publications in Anthropology, 10(1). University
of Washington Press, Seattle, Washington.

Hitchcock, C. L. & A. Cronquist (eds.) 1973. *Flora of the Pacific
Northwest. An illustrated manual*. University of Washington Press,
Seattle & London. 730 pp.

Kunlein, H.V. & N. J. Turner 1991. *Traditional plant foods of Canadian
indigenous peoples*. Nutrition, Botany, and Use. Food and Nutrition in
History and Anthropology Volume 8. Gordon & Breach Science Publishers.
Pgs. 239-242.

Turner, N.J. 1975. *Food plants of British Columbia Indians. Part I.
Coastal peoples*. B.C. Provincial Museum Handbook No. 34, Victoria,
B.C., Canada.

Turner, N.J. 1978. *Food plant of British Columbia Indians. Part II.
Interior peoples*. B.C. Provincial Museum Handbook No. 36, Victoria,
B.C., Canada.

Turner, N.J. & M.A.M. Bell 1983. *The ethnobotany of the Southern
Kwakiutl Indians of British Columbia*. Econ. Bot. 27:257-310.

Turner, N.J. & D.E. Deur 1999. *"Cultivating the clover": Managing plant
resources on the northwest coast*. Presentation at Society of
Ethnobiology meetings, Oaxaca, Mexico.

Turner, N.J. & B.S. Efrat 1982. *The ethnobotany of the Hesquiat Indians
of Vancouver Island*. British Columbia Provincial Museum, Cultural
Recovery Paper No. 2, Queen's Printer, Victoria, B.C., Canada.

Turner, N.J. & B.S. Efrat 1982. *Ethnobotany of the Hesquiat Indians of
Vancouver Island*. B.C. Provincial Museum Cultural Recovery Paper No. 2.
99 pp.

Turner, N.J. & H.V. Kuhnlein 1983. *Camas (Camassia spp.) and riceroot
(Fritillaria ssp.): Two liliaceous "root" foods of the northwest coast
Indians*. Ecology of Food and Nutrition 13:199-219.

Turner, N.J., J. Thomas, B.F. Carlson & R.T. Ogilvie 1983. *Ethnobotany
of the Nitinaht Indians of Vancouver Island*. B.C. Provincial Museum
Occasional Paper No. 24. 165 pp.

Turner, N.J., L.C. Thompson, M.T. Thompson & A.Z. York 1990*. Thompson
ethnobotany: Knowledge and usage of plants by the Thompson Indians of
British Columbia*. Royal British Columbia Museum Memoirs No. 3,
Victoria, B.C., Canada.

USDA, NRCS 2000. *The PLANTS database*. Version: 000327.
\<http://plants.usda.gov\>. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge,
Louisiana.

## Prepared By

#### *Michelle Stevens*

Formerly USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center

## Species Coordinator

### *M. Kat Anderson*

USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center, c/o Plant Science Department,
University of California, Davis, California

Edited: 05dec00 jsp; 19may03 ahv; 07jun06 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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