Calamus is also called common sweet flag and is found near swamps and banks in Europe, Asia, and North America. It is a vigorous, reed-like- aquatic plant.

 

The plant has small, yellow/green flowers. The plant grows to 5 feet in length. It has scented, sword-shaped leaves. The mid vein of the leaves is usually off-center. Cut or bruised leaves produce a sweet, tangerine-like scent. The flower stem arises from the base of the outer leaves. Although resembling a leaf, the scape is triangular in cross section.

 

Sweet flag provides habitat for waterfowl. Muskrats eat the rhizomes and wood ducks consume the seed. The rhizomes are an important commercial commodity and of considerable medicinal value.

 

To cultivate the plant keep soil very moist to saturate. Sweet flag does not tolerate droughty conditions. It grows well under seasonal, shallow inundation; however one must avoid flooding of newly established plants or seeded areas. Starter fertilizers may be used indoors to improve early growth but are unnecessary once transplanted outdoors into a rich soil.

 

Calamus has been have been used medicinally, for its odor, and as a psychotropic drug. In Europe Calamus was often added to wine, and the root is also one of the possible ingredients of absinthe. In addition, the root is thought to have been used as an entheogen among the northern Native Americans. The roots are collected in late fall or spring and washed, the small hairs are removed and the root is dried at low temperature.

 

Did you know?

 

• The roots of the plant can be chewed or chopped and prepared as tea.