489
Acorus calamus L.
Synonym
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Acorus
angustatus Raf.
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Family
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Acoraceae
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Local name
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English - Sweet flag, Sweet root
Malayalam - Vayambu, Vashanpa
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Flowering and fruiting period
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April-July
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Distribution
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North temperate
hemisphere and Tropical Asia
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Distribution in Kerala
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Kottayam, Alappuzha, Idukki, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode,
Wayanad, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Malappuram.
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Habitat
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Semi-aquatic and
marshy localities
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IUCN Status
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Least concerned
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Endemic/Exotic
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Exotic
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Uses
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The rhizome is used to
treat different stomach problems including ulcers, inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis), diarrhoea,
intestinal gas and stomach upset.
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Key
Botanical Characters:
A strongly aromatic
semi-aquatic perennial herb; rhizomes creeping, jointed. Leaves narrow, up to
80 cm long, linear to narrowly ensiform, glossy bright green, apex acute,
base amplexicaul; petioles sheathing for 20-50 cm. Flowers pale green,
fragrant, arranged compactly on a sessile, cylindrical, stumpy spadix 5-7 cm
long. Fruits (berries) green, angular, 3-celled, fleshy, containing 1-3
oblong seeds.  |
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