ARACEAE 



1. Leaves narrow, long-linear, iris-like (fig. lA); spadix appearing 

 lateral on leaf-like axis, with spathe resembling a leaf (fig. lA); 

 rhizomes producing a sweet odor. 



1. Acorus 



1. Leaves broadened (figs. IC, 2B, 3A, 4B); spadix terminal; spathe 



enveloping the spadix (figs. 2C, 3B, 4A,C) or reduced to a basal 



sheath (fig. ID), not leaf-like; rhizomes not producing a sweet odor. 



2. Spadix golden-yellow; spathe obscure, forming a sheath at the 



base of the long scape (fig. ID); leaves broadly oblong-elliptic. 



2. Orontium 



2. Spadix green or brown; spathe broad, conspicuous; leaves ovate, 

 cordate, hastate, or sagittate. 



3. Leaf blades hastate or sagittate (juvenile unlobed), with a 

 prominent vein extending into each basal lobe (fig. 2B). 



3. Peltandra 



3. Leaf blades broadly rounded to cordate (fig. 3A, 4B), lacking a 

 prominent vein extending into the basal lobes (if present). 

 4. Spathe white; spadix on a long peduncle (fig. 3A,B), emerging 

 after leaves; plant lacking a strong odor. 



4. Calla 



4. Spathe mottled, purplish-green and/or reddish-brown; 



spadix appearing sessile (fig. 4A), emerging very early, 



before leaves; plant with a strong skunk-like odor when 



bruised. 



5. Symplocarpus 



Acorus (Sweet-flag, Calamus) 



Emersed perennial of wet meadows, marshes, and shores; growing 

 from a thick, creeping, aromatic rhizome; leaves long-linear; flowers 

 perfect, borne on a spadix, 3-merous, greenish; fruit a gelatinous, few- 

 seeded berry. 



1. Acorus calamus L. Fig. 1, Map 1 



Common in wet meadows, marshes, ponds, and stream banks 

 throughout New England. This species is often confused in the sterile 

 state with Iris, but is easily identified by the sweet odor of the lower 

 portion of the leaves and rhizomes. Range extends from Nova Scotia, 

 Prince Edward Island, and Quebec west to Minnesota, Montana, 

 Idaho, and Oregon, south to Florida and Texas. 



