SWEET FLAG 



'45 



This plant is local, generally, but frequent in some counties. It is 

 entirely aquatic, growing in the water close to the margin of a river, 

 brook, or even ditch, or else it is to be found fringing the sides of 

 a pond, pool, or lake. It is associated with reeds, bulrushes, bur-reeds, 

 growing with them in the marginal reed swamp. 



The stem is tall, erect, with the radical leaves clustered round it, 

 and the plant has a grass-like habit. The leaves are long, sword- 



SWEET FLAG (Acorns Calamus, L.) 



shaped, flat, with wavy margins, sweet-scented when bruised, like the 

 stem and rhizomes. 



The scape is flattened, long, leafy. The prolongation of it is a 

 spathe which is two-edged. In the spike are several hundred flowers. 

 Af its base is a long, slender spadix, which is lateral, and made up 

 of many flowers, curved. The perianth-segments of 6 short scales 

 equal the ovary, and the fruit is inversely egg-shaped. 



Sweet Flag is 2-6 ft. high. It flowers in June and July. The 

 plant is a perennial, propagated by division. 



The flowers are proterogynous, bisexual or complete, and cross- 

 pollination is ensured. There are 6 stamens, fixed on the base of the 

 segments, with flattened anther -stalks. The 6 stamens with anthers 



VOL. IV. 



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