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Calamus
Family Name : ARACEAE
Botanical Name : ACORUS CALAMUS
Common Name : CALAMUS, SWEET-FLAG,
SWEET ROOT, BACH
Part Used : DRIED RHIZOME
Habitat : North Temperate
and subtropical regions upto 2200m altitude in Himalayas.
The morphological distinction
between the Acorus species is made by the number of prominent leaf veins.
Acorus calamus has a single prominent midvein and then
on both sides slightly raised
secondary veins (with a diameter less than half the midvein) and many,
fine tertiary veins. This makes it clearly distinct from Acorus
americanus.
The leaves are between 0.7
and 1.7 cm wide, with average of 1 cm. The sympodial leaf of Acorus calamus
is somewhat shorter than the vegetative leaves. The
margin is curly-edged or
undulate. The spadix, at the time of expansion, can reach a length between
4.9 and 8.9 cm (longer than A. americanus). The flowers are
longer too, between 3 and
4 mm. Acorus calamus is infertile and shows an abortive ovary with a shriveled
appearance.
Uses : It is Nauseant, Stomachic,
Anthelmentic, Stimulants, Emetic, Expectorant, Carminative, Antispasmodic
and Nervine Sedative. Rhizome is used in the cure of
host of diseases such as
epilepsy, mental; ailments, chronic diarrhoea and dysentary. It is used
in incense sticks and dhup and is widely used as insecticide for lice,
bedbugs, worms etc.
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