Acoraceae FAMILY

Acorus calamus americanus

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

4/5

Safety & Hazards

The plant is found in three distinct forms, one diploid, one triploid and one tetraploid. This record is for the diploid form which, unlike the other two forms, contains no beta-asarone in its essential oil[ 1053 Title The Sweetness and Bitterness of Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus L.) - A Review Publication Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences, Vol. 4 Issue 2 pp 598-610 Author Mythili Avadhani MN et al Publisher Year 2013 ISBN 0975-8585 Description A review of the literature regarding the medicinal and other uses of Acorus calamus. ]. The essential oil (like all essential oils), if ingested in its pure form, can be toxic in all but very small quantities[ 238 Title Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Publication Author Bown. D. Publisher Dorling Kindersley, London. Year 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31 Description A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant. , 254 Title The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Publication Author Chevallier. A. Publisher Dorling Kindersley. London Year 1996 ISBN 9-780751-303148 Description An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world. ].

Botanical Description

Acorus calamus americanus is a stemless herbaceous perennial plant producing a clump of sword-shaped leaves up to 150cm tall from an extensively-branched, creeping rhizome that is up to 3cm in diameter[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ]. Sweet flag is a multipurpose plant with a wide range of used as a medicine, food and source of materials. It has a long history of use as a medicinal and culinary plant, dating back 2,000 years or more, and has often been cultivated for this purpose, though it is more commonly allowed to naturalize and then be harvested from the wild. It is often grown as an ornamental[ 1053 Title The Sweetness and Bitterness of Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus L.) - A Review Publication Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences, Vol. 4 Issue 2 pp 598-610 Author Mythili Avadhani MN et al Publisher Year 2013 ISBN 0975-8585 Description A review of the literature regarding the medicinal and other uses of Acorus calamus. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeAsia - central Siberia to Mongolia; N. America - Alaska to Newfoundland, south to Washington and Virginia

HabitatFound in moist soils and shallow water in ditches, marshes, river edges and ponds[ 1 Title RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Publication Author F. Chittendon. Publisher Oxford University Press Year 1951 ISBN - Description Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [ 200 ]). , 100 Title Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Publication Author Polunin. O. Publisher Oxford University Press Year 1969 ISBN 0192176218 Description An excellent and well illustrated pocket guide for those with very large pockets. Also gives some details on plant uses. , 187 Title Perennials. Volumes 1 and 2. Publication Author Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Publisher Pan Books Year 1991 ISBN 0-330-30936-9 Description Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc. , 244 Title Herbs Publication Author Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Publisher Pan Books Ltd. London. Year 1990 ISBN 0-330-30725-8 Description Deals with all types of herbs including medicinal, culinary, scented and dye plants. Excellent photographs with quite good information on each plant. ].