Acoraceae FAMILY

Acorus calamus

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

4/5

Safety & Hazards

The plant is found in three distinct forms, one diploid, one triploid and one tetraploid. Each of these forms has a distinct chemistry - in particular the make up of the essential oil differs considerably. The essential oil obtained from all of the forms contains asarone, which like any essential oil can be toxic in quite small quantities if ingested in its pure form. In addition, the asarone is found in two forms, alpha and beta. Research has shown that the beta form has potential carcinogenic and hepatotoxic effects upon the body if used in quantity. The diploid form of the species (found in parts of northern Asia and much of N. America) is free of beta-asarone, whilst the tetraploid form (found in central Asia, through India, Japan and tropical Asia) contains 90 - 95% beta asarone. The triploid form, found in Europe, southwest Asia to the Himalayas) contains a small percentage of beta-asarone[ 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. ]. In practice, when the whole root is used medicinally, the plant is safe and beneficial to use - as is shown by the wide medicinal use of the plant in Asia, where they use the form that is rich in beta-asarone[ 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. , 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. ].

Botanical Description

Sweet flag 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; tropical

Native RangeWidely spread from the Caucasus through western Asia and Siberia to China, India and southeast Asia. Much of N. America. Widely naturalized elsewhere.

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. ].