At least two of the species are used for detergent properties by Native Americans and early European settlers, specifically the "C. pomeridianum" by tribes including Miwok, and the "C. angustifolium" by the Karuk people . The juices of the bulb contain saponins that form a lather when mixed with water, making the bulbs useful as a kind of soap. This is the origin of several of the plants' common names. It was particularly used for washing hair, since "C. pomeridianum" at least was held to be effective against dandruff.