Acorus americanus

Taxobox
name = American Sweet Flag


image_width = 200px
image_caption = Sweet flag
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Liliopsida
ordo = Acorales
familia = Acoraceae
genus = "Acorus"
species = "A. americanus"
binomial = "Acorus americanus"
binomial_authority = [(Raf.) Raf.]

"Acorus americanus", the American Sweet Flag, is an emergent wetland plant native to the northern United States and Canada. This perennial plant has bright green blade-shaped leaves that arising directly from the rhizomes and sheath into each other at the base. Additionally the blades have 2-6 raised veins, and a swollen center when viewed in cross section. The foliage has a citrus-like spicy aromatic quality, and can be used to flavor beer. It is a flowering plant with inconspicuous flowers are arranged on a lateral spadix (a thickened, fleshy axis), the fertilized flowers of this species produces berries with a jelly inside. This plant is protected as a state endangered species in Pennsylvania. [ [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ACAM NRCS: USDA Plants Profile: "Acorus americanus"] ]

Etymology

The name "Acorus" is derived from the Greek word 'acoron', a name used by Dioscorides, which in turn was derived from 'coreon', meaning 'pupil', because it was used in herbal medicine as a treatment for inflammation of the eye.

The species name, "americanus" simply indicates that this is an American species of this genus, differentiating it from the very similar European and western Asian species Acorus calamus.

Taxonomy

"Acorus americanus" was formerly classified as "Acorus calamus" var. "americanus". However it differs in being a fertile diploid (2n = 24) [ [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=222000002 Flora of North America: A. americanus] ] , whereas "A. calamus" is a sterile triploid species, that only spreads asexually. Diploid plants in northern Asia may be part of "A. americanus".

Uses

This plant was used extensively by Native Americans and early European settlers.

Chemistry

As a diploid species of genus Acorus it does not contain any asarone. Asarone is a possible precursor in the synthesis of the psychedelic phenethylamine TMA-2. This chemical is part of the reason that Calamus derived products were banned as food additives in the United States.

External links

* [http://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/aquatics/acorus.html Rook.com entry] Information about the plant and a picture.

References