FLORA'S LEXICON. 



195 



WEET FLAG. Acorus Calamus. Class 

 6, Hexandria. Order : Monogynia. Lin- 

 naeus considered the Sweet Flags the only 

 native aromatic plant of northern countries. 

 The root has a strong spicy smell, and when 

 dried, is used in medicine with much suc- 

 cess. The Turks eat it as a sweetmeat, 

 and consider it preventive of contagion. 



FITNESS. 



It was the tall, sweet-scented Flag, 



Lay pictured there so true, 

 I could have deem'd some Fairy hand 



The faithful image drew. 



The falchion-leaves, all long and sharp; 



The stem, like a tall leaf too, 

 Except wheie, half-way up its side, 



A cone-shaped flower-spike grew, 



Like a Lady's finger, taper, long, 



From end to end array'd 

 In close scale-armour, that was all 



Of starry flowers made. 



If you could fancy fairy folk 



Would mimic work of ours, 

 You'd think their dainty fingers here 



Had wrought mosaic flowers. 



The tiny petals neatly form'd, 



With geometric skill, 

 Are each one so exactly shaped, 



Its proper place to fill. 



And stamens, like fine golden dust, 



Spangle the flowrets green; 

 Aught more compact or beautiful 



Mine eyes have never seen! Twamley. 



