Acorus calamus Sweet flag (Araceae)

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Acorus calamus
Sweet flag
(1 Page of 5)

The Acorus calamus plant species is found in Europe, Asia and N. America. Naturalized in Britain[17]. It is a member of the Araceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Sweet flag.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Acorus calamus
Common Name:  Sweet flag
Family:  Araceae
Author:  L.

Known Hazards:  The fresh root can be poisonous[7]. When using the plant medicinally, the isolated essential oil should not be used[165]. The essential oil in the roots of some populations of this plant contains the compound asarone. This has tranquilising and antibiotic activity, but is also potentially toxic and carcinogenic[218, 238]. It seems that these compounds are found in the triploid form of the species (found in Asia) whilst the diploid form (found in N. America and Siberia) is free of the compounds[218, 238]. However, the root (but not the isolated essential oil) has been used in India for thousands of years without reports of cancer which suggests that using the whole herb is completely safe, though more research is needed[254].

Mature Height:  1   Mature Width:  1

Habitat:  Found in moist soils and shallow water in ditches, marshes, river edges and ponds[1, 100, 187, 244].

General Uses: The leaves are used in basket making or woven into mats[169]. They have also been used as a thatch for roofs[4]. An essential oil from the rhizome is used in perfumery and as a food flavouring[1, 13, 57]. The oil is contained mainly in the outer skin of the root[245], it has a fragrance reminiscent of patchouli oil[192]. The fresh roots yield about 1.5 - 3.5% essential oil, dried roots about 0.8%[4, 240]. Some plants from Japan have yielded 5% essential oil[4]. The essential oil is also an insect repellent and insecticide[218]. It is effective against houseflies[240]. When added to rice being stored in grannaries it has significantly reduced loss caused by insect damage because the oil in the root has sterilized the male rice weevils[244]. An essential oil obtained from the leaves is used in perfumery and for making aromatic vinegars[245]. The leaves and the root have a refreshing scent of cinnamon[245]. All parts of plant can be dried and used to repel insects or to scent linen cupboards[8, 14, 61]. They can also be burnt as an incense[14], whilst the whole plant was formerly used as a strewing herb[4, 14, 115, 238]. The growing plant is said to repel mosquitoes[20, 201].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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