Acoraceae FAMILY

Acorus gramineus

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

3/5

Safety & Hazards

Although no records of toxicity have been seen, this species belongs to a family where most of the species are poisonous, at least in the fresh state. The following notes are from the related A. calamus - the fresh root can be poisonous[ 7 Title Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. Publication Author Chiej. R. Publisher MacDonald Year 1984 ISBN 0-356-10541-5 Description Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs. ]. When using the plant medicinally, the isolated essential oil should not be used[ 165 Title The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism. Publication Author Mills. S. Y. Publisher Year ISBN Description An excellent small herbal. ].

Botanical Description

Acorus gramineus is a stemless herbaceous perennial plant that can be evergreen in tropical areas. It produces a dense, slowly-spreading clump of sword-shaped leaves up to 50cm tall from an extensively-branched, creeping, slender rhizomer[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. , 352 Title KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder Publication Author Website http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Year 0 ISBN Description Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of an essential oil. It is a very ornamental plant, making a good ground cover - there are some named varieties[ 208 Title Plants for Ground Cover Publication Author Thomas. G. S. Publisher J. M. Dent & Sons Year 1990 ISBN 0-460-12609-1 Description An excellent detailled book on the subject, very comprehensive. , 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. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate; tropical

Native RangeE. Asia - China, Japan, Korea, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Philippines.

HabitatWet places by streams and around ponds in central and southern Japan[ 58 Title Flora of Japan. (English translation) Publication Author Ohwi. G. Publisher Smithsonian Institution Year 1965 ISBN - Description The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader. ]. Dense forests, moist rocky stream banks, meadows; at elevations below 2,600 metres[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ].