No* 1. ACORUS. 27 



These distinctions hardly amount to specific diifer- 

 ence> and therefore the genus might properly be con- 

 sidered as having a single type, which being widely 

 spread has undergone some variations in China, India, 

 Europe and North America. This surmise will be 



m 



confirmed by the habit of these plants being perfect- 

 ly identical, and all possessing the same aromatic 

 smell and medical properties. 



AcoRUs is a name derived from the Greek and 

 alluding to a former belief that it was beneficial for 

 disorders of the eyes. Calamus meant a Reed or 

 Rush in Greek and Latin. 



This genus belongs to Hexandria Monogynia of 

 Linnaeus ; but In the natural arrangement to the tribe 

 of Oroivtides, a branch of Typhides, next to the 



growing on the borders of streams and ponds or mea- 

 dows, ditches, &c. throughout North America, from 

 Canada to Louisiana, east and west of the mountains, 

 in company with the Iris or Flags, Typha^ Sparga- 

 niitmy Orontium, Juncus^ and other Rushes. The 

 fine smell of the leaves and roots, enables to distin- 

 guish it from all other Flags and Rushes at any time. 

 The roots are the most essential part. They form 

 an article of trade in China, Malabar, Turkey. &c. 

 In the early stage of the North American Colonies, 

 it was exported to England ; and is even now occa- 

 sionally sent abroad. It might be carried to China 

 where it is esteemed. It grows so copiously that 

 there will be no need to cultivate it ; but when it 

 may become expedient to produce more, it will be 



