Acorus calamus

Uses as Product: Berry/Nut/Seed Product: No • Christmas Tree Product: No • Fodder Product: No • Fuelwood Product: None • Lumber Product: No • Naval Store Product: No • Nursery Stock Product: Yes • Post Product: No • Protein Potential: Low • Pulpwood Product: No • Veneer Product: No

Edibility: Palatable Browse Animal: Low • Palatable Graze Animal: Low • Palatable Human: No • Toxicity: None

Taxonomy

Unambiguous Synonyms:

1. Calamus aromaticus Garsault

Notes:

Publishing author: Raf. Publication: Med. Fl. i. 26

Publishing author: Stokes Publication: Bot. Mat. Med. ii. 282 1812

Publishing author: Turcz. ex Schott Publication: Prod. 578

Publishing author: Rumph. ex Schott. Publication: Prodr. Syst. Aroid. 579 (1860).

Publishing author: Schott Publication: in Oestr. Bot. Zeitschr. (1859) 101

Publishing author: Lam. Publication: Fl. Fr. iii. 299

Publishing author: Z.Y.Zhu Publication: in Acta Bot. Bor.-Occid. Sin., 5(2): 118 (1985) 1985

Publishing author: Schott Publication: in Oestr. Bot. Zeitschr. (1858) 351

Publishing author: Raf. Publication: New Fl. (Rafinesque) i. 57

Publishing author: Dumort. Publication: Fl. Belg. (Dumortier) 162 1827

Publishing author: Salisb. Publication: Prod. 263

Publishing author: Schott Publication: Prod. 578

Publishing author: Schott Publication: in Ann. Mus. Lugd. Bot. i. 284

Publishing author: Schott Publication: Melet. i. 22.

Publishing author: Bertol. Publication: in Mem. Acad. Sci. Bolog. Ser. II. iv. (1864) 810

Publishing author: [Clairv.] Publication: Man. Herb. 104

Publishing author: Nakai Publication: in Rep. First Sc. Exped. Manchoukuo, Sect. IV. Iv. (Index Fl. Jehol.) 105(1936).

Publishing author: Gilib. Publication: Exerc. Phyt. ii. 507 1792

Publishing author: Schott Publication: Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugduno-Batavi i. 284

Publishing author: Raf. Publication: Autik. Bot. 196 (1840).

Publishing author: Gueldenst. ex Ledeb. Publication: Fl. Ross. iv. 13

Name Status: Accepted Name. Latest taxonomic scrutiny: Govaerts R., 11-Nov-2003

Place of publication: Sp. pl. 1:324. 1753

Name verified on 28-Apr-2000 by ARS Systematic Botanists. Last updated: 28-Apr-2000

Physical Description

Family Acoraceae:

Herbs, perennial, wetland, usually with aromatic oil, especially in rhizomes. Rhizomes horizontal, creeping at or near surface, branched. Stems repent, branched rhizomes. Cataphylls absent. Leaves not differentiated into petiole and blade, equitant, sword-shaped, larger than 1.5 cm; venation parallel along length of leaf. Inflorescences: spadices, from 3-angled axis (peduncle fused with proximal portion of sympodial leaf, i.e., leaf encircling terminal inflorescence), distal sympodial leaf extending beyond spadix; true spathe absent; spadix nearly cylindric, tapering, apex obtuse. Flowers bisexual; tepals 6; stamens 6, distinct; ovariesy 1, (1--) 3-locular, sessile; stigmas sessile (styles essentially absent), minute. Fruits berries; pericarp thin, leathery. Seeds 1--6(--14), from apex of locule.

Genera 1, species 3--6 (2 species in the flora) : temperate Northern Hemisphere, tropical Asia at higher elevations, and sporadically introduced into Southern Hemisphere.

Acorus historically was recognized as an aberrant genus within Araceae, but much evidence supports its treatment as a separate family and the removal of this family from Arales (M. H. Grayum 1987) . Other than the absence of a close association with Arales, the phylogenetic affinities of Acoraceae remain unclear. Evidence based on DNA sequences fails to show any close relationships between Acorus and other genera, and instead supports Acorus as the oldest extant lineage of monocotyledons (M. R. Duvall et al. 1993) .

The removal of Acorus from Araceae is supported by the absence of a spathe and the unique vasculature of the structure traditionally interpreted as a spathe (T. S. Ray 1987) . The structure that has been called a spathe in Acorus is not morphologically equivalent to the spathe of Araceae; instead it is interpreted as the distal part of the sympodial leaf. The proximal part of the sympodial leaf is adnate to the peduncle, forming a 3-angled axis that bears the inflorescence.^[1]

Genus Acorus:

Herbs, wetlands or rocky stream banks, when bruised or broken producing pleasant and distinctive aromatic odor. Leaves bright green; sheathing base 2-facial (proximal part of leaf) ; distal part of leaf 1-facial, flattened in median rather than transverse plane; prominent veins 1--6, parallel along length of leaf. Inflorescences solitary. Flowers: tepals light brown; anthers yellow, introrse; ovariesy green. Fruits light brown to reddish with darker streaks. Seeds embedded in mucilage. x = 12.

Species 3--6: temperate Northern Hemisphere, tropical Asia at higher elevations, sporadically introduced in Southern Hemisphere.

Considerable confusion exists in the taxonomic literature over the status of Acorus in North America. Whether Acorus is native or introduced, as well as the number of taxa in North America, has been debated for years. Evidence based on studies of morphology, essential oil chemistry, cytology, isozymes, and ethnobotany supports the existence of two species in North America”A. calamus, an introduced sterile triploid, and A. americanus, a native fertile diploid (J. G. Packer and G. S. Ringius 1984; S. A. Thompson 1995). Acorus americanus is not only morphologically distinct from triploid A. calamus but also from diploid and tetraploid A. calamus populations occurring in Asia (L. C. M. Röst 1979; S. A. Thompson 1995). Although the existence of two species of Acorus in North America was discussed by J. G. Packer and G. S. Ringius (1984) and A. americanus has been listed in several North American floras, this is the first flora that formally treats two species of Acorus in North America and provides a key to distinguish these two species.

Traditionally, the name Acorus calamus has been applied to all populations of Acorus in North America without regard for the biological species involved. Other authors (e.g., E. T. Browne and R. Athey 1992; K. A. Wilson 1960) have adopted A. americanus as the "correct" name for all Acorus in North America, including populations in regions where only A. calamus occurs or is the predominant species. The use of either name in the literature requires further study to determine which species is being cited.

The rhizomes of Acorus calamus contain an aromatic oil that has been used medicinally since ancient times and has been harvested commercially. Native Americans exploited Acorus as a medicine and for ceremonial uses. Although this plant is cited in the ethnographic and ethnobotanical literature as A. calamus, the distribution of the tribes reported to use Acorus corresponds to the range of the native species (S. A. Thompson 1995).

The combination of equitant, sword-shaped leaves plus an elongate inflorescence borne about midway on a sympodial leaf is not found in any other North American plant. Fresh material of Acorus is easily distinguished from other plants by the unique pleasant fragrance given off by rhizomes and leaves when broken. The bright green color of the leaves is also distinctive.^[2]

Species Acorus calamus:

Leaves basally white with pink or red, otherwise bright green; single midvein (secondary midrib) prominently raised above leaf surface, usually somewhat off-center, other veins barely or not raised; cross section rhomboid. Vegetative leaves to 1.75 m; sheathing base (proximal part of leaf) 22.1--66.5(--73.3) cm; distal part of leaf 31.9--95.8(--117.6) ´ 0.5--2 cm, 1.4--1.8 times longer than proximal part of leaf, margins sometimes undulate or crisped. Sympodial leaf (29.9--) 34.7--159.1(--183.9) cm, usually shorter than to nearly equal to vegetative leaves; sheathing base 16.1--76.4(--100.1) cm; distal part of leaf 13.5--86.2(--101.2) ´ 0.4--1.9 cm. Spadix (3.8--) 4.9--8.9 cm ´ 5.3--10.8 mm at anthesis, post-anthesis spadix 5.5--8.7 cm ´ 6--12.6 mm. Flowers 3--4 mm; pollen grains not staining in aniline blue. Fruits not produced in North America. 2n = 36. Flowering early spring--early summer. [source]

Although leaf and spadix size of A. calamus and A. americanus overlap, those measurements differ significantly, with A. calamus in general having longer and wider leaves and longer spadices. [source]

Habit: Forb/herb • Growth Form: Rhizomatous • Shape and Orientation: Semi-Erect

Flowers: Bloom Period: Late Spring • Flower Color: Yellow • Flower Conspicuous: No

Seeds: Seed Spread Rate: None • Seedling Vigor: Low • Fruit/Seed Abundance: Low • Fruit/Seed Color: Brown • Fruit/Seed Conspicuous: No • Cold Stratification Required: No

Foliage: Foliage Color: Green • Foliage Porosity Summer: Dense • Foliage Porosity Winter: Porous • Foliage Texture: Coarse • Fall Conspicuous: No • Leaf Retention: No

Images:

Distribution

Range and Population

Asia, N. America, introduced elsewere

Native: Chita, Gorno-Altay, Irkutsk, Java, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Tuva.

Habitat

Wet open areas, marshes, swales, and along edges of quiet water; 0--900 m^[3].

Reproduction

Duration: Perennial • Coppice Potential: No • Progagated by Bulbs: No • Propagated by Bare Root: Yes • Propagated by Container: Yes • Propagated by Corms: No • Propagated by Cuttings: No • Propagated by Seed: No • Propagated by Sod: No • Propagated by Sprigs: Yes • Propagated by Tubers: No • Fruit/Seed Period Begin: Summer • Fruit/Seed Period End: Summer • Fruit/Seed Persistence: No • Fruit/Seed Persistence: No

Growth

Culture: Space 24-36" apart.

Soil: Adapted to Medium Textured: Adapted to Medium Textured Soils • Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils: Yes • Anaerobic Tolerance: High • Salinity Tolerance: Low • CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium • Minimum pH: 5.2 • Maximum pH: 7.2 • Fertility Requirement: Medium

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Full Sun. • Shade Tolerance: Intolerant

Moisture: Drought Tolerance: None • Minimum Precipitation: 32 • Maximum Precipitation: 60 • Moisture Use: High • Water Requirements: 0-6" water depth.

Temperature: Minimum Temperature (F): -38 • Minimum Frost Free Days: 90 • Cold Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b. (map)

Similar Species

Members of the genus Acorus:

There are approximately 40 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus: A. 'Intermedius' · A. adulterinus · A. barteri · A. brasiliensium · A. brasiliensius · A. calamus (Calamus) · A. calamus 'Argenteostriatus' · A. calamus 'Purpureus' · A. calamus 'Variegatus' (Variegated Sweet Flag) · A. calamus non · A. calamus var. americanus (Calamus) · A. calamus var. angustatus · A. calamus var. calamus · A. christophii · A. gramineus (Grassleaf Sweet Flag) · A. gramineus 'Argenteastriatus' (Grassy-Leaved Sweet Flag) · A. gramineus 'Golden Delight' · A. gramineus 'Golden Edge' · A. gramineus 'Golden Pheasant' (Grassy-Leaved Sweet Flag) · A. gramineus 'Hakuro-nishiki' (Grassy-Leaved Sweet Flag) · A. gramineus 'Hime-masamune' · A. gramineus 'Himemasamune' (Grassy-Leaved Sweet Flag) · A. gramineus 'Licorice' (Grassy-Leaved Sweet Flag) · A. gramineus 'Masamune' (Grassy-Leaved Sweet Flag) · A. gramineus 'Minimus Aureus' (Grassy Leaved Sweetflag) · A. gramineus 'Oborozuki' (Grassy-Leaved Sweet Flag) · A. gramineus 'Ogon' (Dwarf Golden Sweetflag) · A. gramineus 'Pusillus Minimus Aureus' (Dwarf Goldensweet Flag) · A. gramineus 'Tanimanoyuki' (Grassy-Leaved Sweet Flag) · A. gramineus 'Yodo-no-yuki' · A. gramineus Sol. ex Aiton 'Albovariegatus' · A. gramineus Sol. ex Aiton 'Aureo-Variegatus' · A. gramineus Sol. ex Aiton 'Aureovariegatus' · A. gramineus var. Variegatus (Dwarf Variegated Sweetflag) · A. intermedius · A. longispadiceus · A. nilaghirensis · A. palmita · A. tartarinowii · A. vulgaris

Bibliography

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• Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, ed. 2. (Glea Cron ed2)
• Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 2002. World checklist and bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae). (L Araceae)
• Grayum, M. H. 1987. A summary of evidence and arguments supporting the removal of Acorus from the Araceae. Taxon 36: 723--729.
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• Motley, T. J. 1994. The ethnobotany of sweet flag, Acorus calamus (Araceae). Econ. Bot. 48:397–412.
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Notes

Contributors:

• "Acorus calamus". in Flora of North America Vol. 22. Published by Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.
• Bisby, F.A., Y.R. Roskov, M.A. Ruggiero, T.M. Orrell, L.E. Paglinawan, P.W. Brewer, N. Bailly, J. van Hertum, eds (2007). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2007 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2006. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed April 6, 2007.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed November 15, 2007. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 2 providers.
• Species Fungorum 2006.
• The International Plant Names Index. Accessed Jan 19, 2007.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Plant Characteristics Database. Accessed April 17, 2006.
• USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL (April 25, 2008)
• USDA, NRCS. 2005. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
• World Checklist of Selected Plant FamiliesFeb 2, 2006.

Data Sources:

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 11, 2007:

• Jyväskylä University Museum - The Section of Natural Sciences, Vascular plant collection of Jyvaskyla University Museum
• Missouri Botanical Garden, Missouri Botanical Garden
• Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Vascular Plant Herbarium, Oslo
• Oregon State University, Vascular Plant Collection
• The Swedish Museum of Natural History
• , Botany
• The Swedish Museum of Natural History
• , Herbarium of Oskarshamn
• The Swedish Museum of Natural History
• , Plants
• UK National Biodiversity Network, Botanical Society of the British Isles - Vascular Plants Database
• UK National Biodiversity Network, Environment and Heritage Service - EHS Species Datasets
• USDA PLANTS, USDA PLANTS Database
• University of Alabama Biodiversity and Systematics, Herbarium
• University of Alaska Museum of the North, University of Alaska Museum of the North Herbarium

Identifiers:

• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 182561
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 14252779
• Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:84009-1
• Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: PMACO01010 PMACO01020
• U.S.D.A. Plant Symbol: ACAM ACCA4
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 19532

Footnotes:

1. Sue A. Thompson "Acoraceae". in Flora of North America Vol. 22. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.
2. "Acorus". in Flora of North America Vol. 22. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.
3. "Acorus calamus". in Flora of North America Vol. 22. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.