Aeorus calamus. 69 
rush) all which are indiscriminately known by the common name of 
flag. It is often, however, found in swampy meadows, old ditches, 
overflowed places, and low moist grounds contiguous to water. It 
flowers in May and June, at which time it may readily be distinguish- 
ed from the other plants called flags. Calamus is a common inhabitant 
of the sites just specified, throughout the United States, and can 
seldom be sought for unsuccessfully, at the period of its florescence. 
When out of bloom, the smell of the roots, and indeed, of the whole 
plant, will readily direct to the spot where it grows. 
MEDICINAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES. 
The root only of calamus is used in medicine. It is carminative 
and stomachic, and is used as an ingredient in many bitter infu- 
sions. It communicates, however, as has already been remarked, 
a nauseous flavour to such infusions. The root, when dried, has a 
warm and tolerably strong aromatic smell, and a pungent bitter 
taste. It contains an essential oil, to which is probably owing its pe- 
culiar taste, and the agreeable flavour it is known to communicate 
to the bitter infusions of which it is an ingredient; for the residuum 
after distillation has a nauseous flavour dissimilar to calamus, Hoff-- 
man* obtained only two ounces of the essential oil from fifty pounds 
* Observat. Physico-chym. lib. 1. obs. 1. 
