Family: Acoraceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 324 (1753)
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Acorus
Vegetable: False
Observations: Asia, N. America
Description
Acorus calamus, commonly known as Calamus, is a perennial herbaceous plant of notable significance across various regions, particularly in Asia and North America. Its etymology is rooted in its Latin classification, with the species being formally described in the seminal work “Species Plantarum” by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.
Calamus thrives in wetlands, marshy areas, and along the edges of streams and ponds, reflecting its preference for moist, aquatic environments. The plant is easily identifiable by its tall, slender, sword-like leaves, which often emit a fragrant aroma when crushed, a characteristic linked to its essential oil content.
One of the central features of Calamus is its rhizome, an underground stem that has historically been valued for its medicinal properties. The rhizome is typically yellow-brown on the outside and white on the inside, with a spongy texture. It is this part of the plant that has found use in traditional medicine systems across different cultures. The herbal applications of Acorus calamus are diverse; it has been utilized for its purported benefits in treating gastrointestinal issues, respiratory problems, and even as a mild sedative.
Beyond its medicinal uses, Calamus has cultural significance in various societies. In some regions, it is employed in rituals and ceremonies, valued for its pleasant scent and symbolic attributes. The essential oil derived from the rhizome is also used in perfumery and incense.
As a member of the family Acoraceae, Calamus is closely related to a small group of aromatic monocot plants. The family is distinguished by plants that possess a similar morphology and a shared preference for wetland habitats. The resilience and adaptability of Calamus allow it to colonize and stabilize soil in its preferred environments, thereby playing an essential ecological role.
In conclusion, Acorus calamus is a plant of considerable botanical interest and utilitarian value. From its wetland habitats in Asia and North America to its multifaceted applications in traditional medicine and cultural practices, Calamus stands out as a prominent species in the family Acoraceae. Its enduring presence and ongoing relevance in various domains underscore the enduring legacy of this remarkable plant.
Common Names
Dan: almindelig kalmus, bastardsennep, kalmus, sløyfeblomst
Lit: balinis ajeras
Swe: blomsteriberis, gråsenap, roseniberis, sorgört, kalmus, rohtokalmojuuri
Eng: calamus, flagroot, myrtle-flag, sweet calamus, sweet flag, sweet-flag, sweetflag, sweetroot, european sweetflag, flag-root, sweet-root
Fin: hilmiö, katkerasaippo, rohtokalmojuuri
Deu: indischer kalmus, kalmus
Nld: kalmoes
Nor: narresennep, prydsløyfe
Ron: obligeana
Pol: tatarak zwyczajny
Fra: acore, acore calame, acore odorant, acore vrai, acore roseau, acore aromatique, acorus roseau, belle-angélique
Ita: calamo
Spa: calamís, cálamo aromático
Est: harilik kalamus
Lav: kalme, smaržiga kalme
Afr: kalmoes
Nno: kalmusrot
Nob: kalmusrot
Hun: orvosi kálmos
Ces: puškvorec obecný
Kor: chang-po
Cym: gellesg pêr, gellesgen beraroglaidd, gellesgen bêr, gellhesgen beraroglaidd, gellhesgen perarogl
En: Calamus, Flagroot, Sweet calamus, Sweet-flag, Sweetroot, Myrtle-flag, Single-Vein Sweetflag, SWEETFLAG, Bēowyrt, Jangu, Jeureunggèë, Jhârângo, Sweet Flag, Beewort, Calamus root, Calamus-root, Flag root, Muskrat root, Pine root, Rat root, Sweet calomel, Sweet cane, Sweet myrtle, Sweet rush, Sweet sedge, European sweetflag, Flag-root, Sweet-root, Cinnamon Sedge, Myrtle Grass, Myrtle Sedge, Single-veined sweetflag, Sweet root
Af: Kalmoes
Sq: Kashtëfryza
Ar: وج
Hy: Խնկեղեգ ճահճային
Az: Bataqlıq kəcəvəri
Ba: Аир ҡамышы
Eu: Lasturrin
Be: Аер звычайны, Аер
Bn: বচ
Bg: Аир блатен, Блатен аир
My: လင်းနေပင်
Ca: Càlam
Zh: 白菖, 白菖蒲, 菖蒲, 藏菖蒲
Hr: Iđirot
Cs: Puškvorec obecný
Da: Kalmus, Almindelig kalmus, Bastardsennep, Sløyfeblomst
Nl: Kalmoes, Zwanenbrood
Eo: Kalam-akoro
Et: Harilik kalmus, Jõemõõk, Luhamõõk, Harilik kalamus
Fi: Rohtokalmojuuri, Hilmiö, Katkerasaippo
Fr: Acore calame, Acore odorant, Acore vrai, Jonc odorant, Schoenante, Acore, Acore roseau, Acore aromatique, Acorus roseau, Belle-angélique, Roseau aromatique
De: Kalmus, Ackerwurz, Gewürzkalmus, Kaninchenwurz, Kaninchenwurzel, Karremanswurz, Karremanswurzel, Magenbrand, Magenwurz, Nagenwurz, Rotting, Schwertheu, Würtzriedt, Zehrwurz, Indischer Kalmus, Echter Kalmus, Gewürzhafter Kalmus, Kalamus, Schwertwurzel, Siggewurzel, Bunter Kalmus
Hi: बच
Hu: Orvosi kálmos
Io: Akoro
Id: Jeringau
It: Calamo, Calamo aromatico, Acoro, Acorus calamus
Jv: Dringo
Kn: ಬಜೆ
Kk: Şalşıq andızı, Шалшық андызы, شالشىق اندىزى
Ky: Жөнөкөй айыр
Ko: 창포, Chang-po
Lv: Kalme, Parastā kalme, Smaržīgā kalme, Smaržiga kalme
Lt: Balinis ajeras
Mk: Лирот
Ms: Pokok Jerangau
Ml: വയമ്പ്
Mr: वेखंड
Ne: बोझो
No: Kalmusrot, Narresennep, Prydsløyfe
Nb: Kalmusrot
Nn: Kalmusrot
Or: ବଚ
Os: Зал
Fa: اگیر ترکی, وج
Pl: Tatarek pospolity, Ajer, Tatarak zwyczajny
Pt: Açoro, Cana-cheirosa, Cálamo-aromático
Ro: Obligeană, Obligeana
Ru: Аир болотный, Аир обыкновенный, Аир тростниковый, Ирный корень
Sa: वामनी
Si: වදකහ
Sk: Puškvorec obyčajný
Es: Calamís, Cálamo aromático, Ácoro, Acoro dulce
Sv: Kalmus, Kalmusrot, Blomsteriberis, Gråsenap, Roseniberis, Sorgört, Rohtokalmojuuri
Zh-tw: 菖蒲
Ta: வசம்பு
Tt: Кылычүлән
Te: వజ, వస
Th: ว่านน้ำ
Zh-hant: 菖蒲
Tr: Azakeğeri, Hazanbel
Uk: Аїр звичайний, Аїр тростинний, Аїр тростиновий, Лепеха звичайна, Татарське зілля
Ur: داج قلموس
Vi: Thủy xương bồ
Cy: Gellesgen bêr, Gellesg Pêr, Gellesgen Beraroglaidd, Gellhesgen Beraroglaidd, Gellhesgen Perarogl
Fy: Kalmuswoartel
Synonyms
- Calamus aromaticus (Garsault)
Distribution
- Alaska (native)
- Alberta (native)
- Altay (native)
- Amur (native)
- Assam (native)
- Bangladesh (native)
- Borneo (native)
- British Columbia (native)
- Buryatiya (native)
- Cambodia (native)
- China North-Central (native)
- China South-Central (native)
- China Southeast (native)
- Chita (native)
- Connecticut (native)
- East Himalaya (native)
- Hainan (native)
- Idaho (native)
- India (native)
- Inner Mongolia (native)
- Iowa (native)
- Irkutsk (native)
- Japan (native)
- Jawa (native)
- Kamchatka (native)
- Kansas (native)
- Kazakhstan (native)
- Khabarovsk (native)
- Kirgizstan (native)
- Korea (native)
- Krasnoyarsk (native)
- Kuril Is. (native)
- Laccadive Is. (native)
- Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
- Maine (native)
- Malaya (native)
- Maldives (native)
- Manchuria (native)
- Manitoba (native)
- Masachusettes (native)
- Michigan (native)
- Minnesota (native)
- Mongolia (native)
- Montana (native)
- Myanmar (native)
- Nebraska (native)
- Nepal (native)
- New Brunswick (native)
- New Hampshire (native)
- New York (native)
- Newfoundland (native)
- Northwest Territorie (native)
- Nova Scotia (native)
- Ohio (native)
- Ontario (native)
- Pennsylvania (native)
- Philippines (native)
- Primorye (native)
- Prince Edward I. (native)
- Qinghai (native)
- Québec (native)
- Sakhalin (native)
- Saskatchewan (native)
- South Dakota (native)
- Sri Lanka (native)
- Sulawesi (native)
- Thailand (native)
- Tibet (native)
- Tuva (native)
- Uzbekistan (native)
- Vermont (native)
- Vietnam (native)
- Washington (native)
- West Himalaya (native)
- West Siberia (native)
- Wisconsin (native)
- Xinjiang (native)
- Yakutskiya (native)
- Alabama (introduced)
- Albania (introduced)
- Andaman Is. (introduced)
- Arkansas (introduced)
- Austria (introduced)
- Baltic States (introduced)
- Belarus (introduced)
- Belgium (introduced)
- Bulgaria (introduced)
- California (introduced)
- Cape Provinces (introduced)
- Central European Rus (introduced)
- Colorado (introduced)
- Czechoslovakia (introduced)
- Delaware (introduced)
- Denmark (introduced)
- East European Russia (introduced)
- Finland (introduced)
- France (introduced)
- Free State (introduced)
- Føroyar (introduced)
- Georgia (introduced)
- Germany (introduced)
- Great Britain (introduced)
- Hungary (introduced)
- Iceland (introduced)
- Ireland (introduced)
- Italy (introduced)
- Kentucky (introduced)
- Krym (introduced)
- Louisiana (introduced)
- Maryland (introduced)
- Mississippi (introduced)
- Missouri (introduced)
- Netherlands (introduced)
- New Guinea (introduced)
- North Carolina (introduced)
- North Caucasus (introduced)
- North European Russi (introduced)
- Northwest European R (introduced)
- Norway (introduced)
- Oklahoma (introduced)
- Oregon (introduced)
- Pakistan (introduced)
- Poland (introduced)
- Romania (introduced)
- Sicilia (introduced)
- South Carolina (introduced)
- South European Russi (introduced)
- Svalbard (introduced)
- Sweden (introduced)
- Switzerland (introduced)
- Tennessee (introduced)
- Texas (introduced)
- Transcaucasus (introduced)
- Turkey (introduced)
- Turkey-in-Europe (introduced)
- Ukraine (introduced)
- West Virginia (introduced)
- Yugoslavia (introduced)
Additional Images
Flower
Taken May 23, 2018 by Kirse Alina (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 22, 2019 by Josef Hodek (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − H. Zell (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 25, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Hugues TINGUY (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Jul 1, 2021 by Роман Купченко (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 14, 2022 by yvon s (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 9, 2009 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 15, 2014 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 17, 2018 by Larry Huang (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Aug 15, 2010 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Apr 22, 2019 by Bernardo Sirca (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 5, 2007 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 8, 2010 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 9, 2009 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Aug 20, 2015 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 20, 2015 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 5, 2011 by EOL − Tom Potterfield (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Jul 18, 2020 by florantique (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 5, 2019 by Sk Ariful (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 17, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Hugues TINGUY (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 14, 2022 by yvon s (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 17, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Hugues TINGUY (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Bark
Taken May 10, 2022 by Dagmar Dagmar Stol (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 15, 2010 by Photoflora – Yann QUELEN (©)
Taken Oct 25, 2009 by Ramona Sgariglia (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − John Hilty (cc-by-nc)
Taken May 12, 2022 by Алихан Караев (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2873769)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:84009-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Acorus calamus L.)
Specifications
Growth
Ph maximum: 7.5
Ph minimum: 7.0
Light: 8
Atmospheric humidity: 8
Bloom months: [‘may’, ‘jun’, ‘jul’, ‘aug’]
Soil nutriments: 7