European sweet-flag
Acorus calamus L.
Images
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Morphology
- Stem
- Aerial stems absent. Herbage usually aromatic; from branched and creeping rhizomes.
- Leaves
- Basal, simple, crowded, erect; stipules absent; petioles absent; blade bright green, linear, 35 to 40 inches long, 1/3 to 1 inch wide, sword-shaped, parallel-veined, midvein usually off-center, margins entire.
- Inflorescence
- Spadix subtended by erect, leaf-like spathe, 8 to 24 inches, which extends beyond spadix; spadix diverging from scape, cylindric, 1.6 to 3.6 inches long, .2 to .4 inch wide, tapered, apex obtuse.
- Flower
- Bisexual; radially symmetric; tepals 6, distinct; stamens 6, distinct; style 1; stigma 1.
- Fruit
- Fruits are not produced.
Ecology
- Habitat
- Marshes, swamps, and backwater areas along rivers
- Distribution
- Scattered in east 3/4 of Kansas
Practical Information
- Uses
- Introduced to North American for its medicinal uses. Native Americans used sweet-flag as a medicine and for ceremonial uses. It provides habitat for waterfowl.
Additional Notes
Comments
This species is a sterile triploid. Acorus historically has been placed in the Araceae. The name Acorus calamus long has been applied to North American plants, but evidence supports recognition of two species: the European A. calamus and the native A. americanus (Raf.) Raf. Acorus americanus occurs in eastern Nebraska but has not been found in Kansas.
Quick Facts
- Plant Type
- Wildflower
- Family
- Acoraceae - Sweet-flag Family
- Life Span
- Perennial
- Height
- To 5 feet
- Origin
- Introduced
- Last Updated
- 2014-04-19
Color Groups
White, Green & Greenish White Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Blooms: May, June, July, August