Acorus roseau

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• European sweetflag
• calamus
• flag-root
• myrtle-flag
• old world sweetflag
• single-vein sweetflag
• sweet calamus
• Sweet-Flag
• Sweet Flag
• flagroot
• sweetroot
• Asian Sweet-Flag
• Calamus Root
• Calamus Sweet Flag
• Calmus
• Drug Sweetflag
• Eurasian Sweet-Flag
• Eurasian Sweetflag
• European Sweet-flag
• Myrtle Flag
• Myrtle Grass
• Myrtle Sedge
• Rat Root
• Single-veined Sweetflag
• Sweet Calomel
• Sweet Cane
• Sweet Colomel
• Sweet Rush
• Sweet Sedge
• Vegetable Calomel
• beewort
• gladdon
• pine root
• sweet cinnamon
• sweet myrtle
• sweet segg

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Acorus angustifolius
• Acorus commersonii
• Acorus odoratus
• Acorus terrestris
• Acorus belangeri
• Acorus calamus var. europeus
• Acorus angustatus
• Acorus calamus f. submersa
• Acorus calamus var. angustifolius
• Acorus calamus var. belangeri
• Acorus calamus var. calamus
• Acorus calamus var. vulgaris
• Acorus calamus-aromaticus
• Acorus casia
• Acorus europaeus
• Acorus flexuosus
• Acorus floridanus
• Acorus calamus subsp. vulgaris

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further organized into the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Acorales, falling under the family Acoraceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Acorus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide presence across various regions of Northern Europe. Specifically, it can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Denmark and Finland. Its distribution also extends to the island of Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Additionally, the species is well-documented throughout Great Britain. These various locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in different northern environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Acorus calamus is characterized by its preference for highly saturated environments, primarily inhabiting lakes, rivers, shores, and swamps. This plant thrives in wetland ecosystems where it can access constant moisture through its specialized rhizomes. Its distribution spans a significant altitudinal gradient, allowing it to colonize diverse mountainous and lowland landscapes. It is typically found at a mean elevation of 1800 m AMSL, though its ecological range is quite broad, extending from a minimum elevation of 600 m AMSL to a maximum peak of 2800 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

600 m AMSL

Habitat :

lakes, rivers, shores, swamps

Life history

The life history of Acorus calamus is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term survival through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a cryptophyte, utilizing specialized underground structures to persist through unfavorable environmental conditions. Specifically, it is classified as a geophyte, relying on its rhizomatous system to store nutrients and facilitate regrowth. This species exhibits a deciduous growth pattern, shedding its foliage during periods of dormancy.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Acorus calamus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a parasite, maintaining an independent life cycle. The plant typically exhibits a terrestrial habitat, though it can inhabit semiaquatic environments. In terms of stature, it reaches a mean height of 1.15 m, with individual specimens generally ranging from a minimum of 0.6 m to a maximum height of 1.2 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.2 m

Plant height mean:

1.15 m

Plant height min:

0.6 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Acorus calamus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy typical of many wetland monocots that allows for efficient carbon fixation in temperate and subtropical environments. As a non-carnivorous plant, it relies entirely on its root system and soil nutrients for sustenance, and it does not possess the specialized structures required for nitrogen fixation, meaning it lacks the symbiotic capabilities to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms. The plant's leaf morphology is marked by a mean leaf size of approximately 100.67 cm², reflecting its structural adaptation to light interception in its natural habitat. Furthermore, it exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 255.58 cm²/g, a physiological metric that indicates a relatively high ratio of leaf area to dry mass, suggesting a leaf structure optimized for efficient gas exchange and light capture.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

100.67375 cm²

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

255.58 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Acorus calamus is characterized by a sexual process facilitated by bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being noted as absent. The flowering period typically begins in June and concludes in July. The pollination process follows a biotic syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate fertilization. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fruit classified as a berry, which is indehiscent in nature. The resulting seeds are extremely small, with a mean seed mass of approximately 0.002049 g; however, data indicates a seed mass range concentrated around 0.00372 g. Regarding the movement of its progeny, the species exhibits an anthropochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning its seeds are spread via human activity.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit type :

berry

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.00372 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00204933333333333 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Acorus calamus has 3 reported plant parts identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome, leaf, root.

Rhizome

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Biotechnology journal
3. Scientific reports
4. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Phytochemistry

Leaf

1. Current pharmaceutical design
2. Parasitology international
3. Phytochemistry
4. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology

Root

1. Ancient science of life
2. Canadian journal of microbiology

Chemicals

Acorus calamus has 149 reported phytochemicals identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include alpha-Asarone, Asarone, Flavonoids, beta-Asarone, 7-Epi-12-hydroxyjasmonic acid.

alpha-Asarone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Pharmacological research
4. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Asarone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Parasitology international
3. Farmakologiia i toksikologiia

Flavonoids

1. Biotechnology journal
2. Microbiological research
3. Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.)

beta-Asarone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product letters
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

7-Epi-12-hydroxyjasmonic acid

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.)

Asaronaldehyde

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product letters

Catechin 7-glucoside

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Galangin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology

Linalool

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry

Methyl isoeugenol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Microbial pathogenesis

Activities

Acorus calamus has 492 reported activities identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Sedative, Antibacterial, Antispasmodic, Neuroprotective.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. CNS & neurological disorders drug targets
5. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Sedative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Indian journal of experimental biology
3. Scientific reports
4. Farmakologiia i toksikologiia

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Microbial pathogenesis
3. Ancient science of life

Antispasmodic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry
3. Natural product research

Neuroprotective

1. Scientific reports
2. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry
3. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry

Antimutagenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Indian journal of experimental biology

Antiulcer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Farmakologiia i toksikologiia

Conditions

Acorus calamus has 55 reported investigations on conditions identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include oxidative stress, neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's disease, asthma, epilepsy.

Oxidative stress

1. Journal of environmental biology
2. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry
3. Alternative therapies in health and medicine
4. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
5. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Neurodegenerative diseases

1. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

Alzheimer's disease

1. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry
2. CNS & neurological disorders drug targets
3. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Asthma

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology

Epilepsy

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Natural product research

Bronchitis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology

Cough

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Dementia

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fever

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Natural product research

Inflammation

1. Microbial pathogenesis
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Acorus calamus has 34 reported preparations identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, crude extract, essential oils, ethylacetate fraction, extract.

Extracts

1. 3 Biotech
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
3. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Crude extract

1. Journal of cardiovascular pharmacology
2. Journal of natural medicines

Essential oils

1. Journal of dietary supplements
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Ethylacetate fraction

1. Journal of cardiovascular pharmacology
2. Journal of natural medicines

Extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Hindustan antibiotics bulletin

Nhexane fraction

1. Journal of cardiovascular pharmacology
2. Journal of natural medicines

A. calamus essential oil

1. Microbial pathogenesis

Acorus calamus extract

1. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry

Alcoholic crude extracts

1. Microbiological research

Aqueous extracts

1. Canadian journal of microbiology