Japanese rush

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Slender Sweet-Flag
• Dwarf Sedge
• Japanese Rush
• Japanese Sweet Flag
• grass-leaf sweet-flag
• Grass-leaved Sweet-Flag
• Grassleaf Sweet-Flag
• Grassy-leaved Sweet Flag
• grassleaf sweetflag
• slender sweet flag

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Acorus xiangyeus
• Acorus pusillus
• Acorus macrospadiceus
• Acorus humilis
• Acorus gramineus var. japonicus
• Acorus gramineus var. macrospadiceus
• Acorus gramineus var. pusillus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Acorus gramineus, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Acorales and the family Acoraceae. Ultimately, it is identified by its genus, Acorus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical range that extends across several distinct regions. In Northern Europe, its presence is notably recorded in Great Britain. Moving eastward, it can be found within the Russian Far East, specifically in the Primorye region. The species is also widely distributed throughout China, spanning from Inner Mongolia to the South-Central provinces. Additionally, its habitat reaches as far south as the island of Hainan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Acorus gramineus is characterized by its specialized survival strategies, functioning primarily as a geophyte and a cryptophyte. As a geophyte, the plant relies on underground storage organs, such as rhizomes, to endure unfavorable environmental conditions and facilitate regrowth during favorable seasons. Its classification as a cryptophyte indicates that its perennating buds are located below the soil surface or at the soil level, protecting them from external stressors like frost or desiccation. This life cycle allows the species to maintain a persistent presence in its habitat, utilizing its subterranean structures to navigate seasonal fluctuations while emerging to perform photosynthetic activities when conditions are optimal.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Acorus gramineus is characterized by its growth form as a herb, featuring non-woody tissues that lack any woody structural elements. As a terrestrial plant, it grows directly in soil or aquatic substrates rather than functioning as an epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial existence. The plant does not exhibit climbing behavior, instead functioning as a self-supporting organism that maintains its own structure without the need for external support. Furthermore, it is an independent species, showing no parasitic tendencies toward other plants.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Acorus gramineus has 2 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome, leaf.

Rhizome

1. Cardiovascular toxicology
2. Food science & nutrition
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Viruses
5. Life sciences

Leaf

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

Chemicals

Acorus gramineus has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Estragole, alpha-Asarone, beta-Asarone, cis-Asarone, eugenol.

Estragole

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

alpha-Asarone

1. Neuropharmacology

beta-Asarone

1. Brain research

cis-Asarone

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

eugenol

1. Brain research

Activities

Acorus gramineus has 2 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Prebiotic.

Antioxidant

1. Food science & nutrition

Prebiotic

1. Food science & nutrition

Conditions

Acorus gramineus has 18 reported investigations on conditions identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Alzheimer's disease, dementia, spatial memory, amnesia, anxiety.

Alzheimer's disease

1. Neuropharmacology
2. Neuroscience letters
3. Nutrients

Dementia

1. Neuropharmacology
2. Nutrients
3. Frontiers in aging neuroscience

Spatial memory

1. Neuropharmacology
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Amnesia

1. Nutrients

Anxiety

1. Frontiers in aging neuroscience

Cognitive function

1. Neuropharmacology

Convulsions

1. Frontiers in aging neuroscience

Depression

1. Frontiers in aging neuroscience

Epilepsy

1. Frontiers in aging neuroscience

Frontotemporal dementia

1. Nutrients

Preparations

Acorus gramineus has 15 reported preparations identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include rhizomes, Alpha-asarone, KXs formula, Kai-Xin-San preparations, Methanolic extracts.

Rhizomes

1. Nutrients
2. Viruses

Alpha-asarone

1. Neuropharmacology

Kxs formula

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Kai-xin-san preparations

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Methanolic extracts

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Pap 9704

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Pmc-12

1. Neuroscience letters

Alpha-asarone (α-asaronol)

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Aqueous extracts

1. Journal of medicinal food

Essential oils

1. Frontiers in aging neuroscience