Calamus Introduction:

Calamus (Latin name: Acorus tatarinowii), belongs to the family of Tennessee, Calamus genus graminaceous perennial herb, its rhizome with odor. The leaves are entire, arranged in a biseriate, fleshy spike (spathe), with green pedicels and spathe-like leaves. The rhizome is often used medicinally. It grows in areas from 20 to 2600 meters above sea level, mostly in mountain streams and rocky gaps or ravines among running gravel (sometimes growing in water). Flowers and fruits from February to June. Distributed in Asia, including northeastern India, northern Thailand, China and other countries.

Characteristics of Calamus:

Calamus is a perennial herb. The rhizome is aromatic, 2-5 millimeters thick, light brown externally, with internodes 3-5 millimeters long, the roots are fleshy with numerous fibrous roots, the upper branches of the rhizome are very dense, the plant is thus tufted, and the branches are often covered with fibrous persistent leaf bases. Leaves sessile, blades thin, membranous leaf sheaths up to 5 mm wide on either side of the base, extending up to the middle of the blade, tapering, deciduous; leaf blade dark green, linear, 20-30(50) cm long, base folded, spreading above the middle, 7-13 mm wide, apex tapering, no midrib, parallel veins numerous, slightly elevated.

Inflorescence stalks axillary, 4-15 centimeters long, three-angled. Leafy spathe 13-25 cm long, 2-5 times as long as or longer than the fleshy spikes, sparsely subequal; fleshy spikes terete, (2.5)4-6.5(8.5) cm long, 4-7 mm thick, acuminate distally, erect or slightly curved. Flowers white.

The mature infructescence is 7-8 cm long and up to 1 cm in diameter. Young fruit green, yellowish green or yellowish white at maturity. Flowering and fruiting period February-June.