74 SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED PHARMACOGNOSY 



Description. The entire corm is ovoid, from 1 to 3 cm. in length 

 and 1 to 5 cm. in diameter; outer surface dark brown, deeply wrink- 

 led, the suitmit depressed and near which arise numerous rather coarse 

 roots; taste acrid especially when recently gathered. 



Inner Structure. Resembling the European Arum (Rhizoma 

 Aronis). Consult Holm, Merck's Report, 1911, p. 66. 



Constituents. Probably the same as in the European Arum. 



CALAMUS. Sweet Flag. The dried, unpeeled rhizome of 

 Acorus Calamus (Fam. Araceae), a perennial herb widely distributed 

 in all north-temperate regions. The commercial supplies are obtained 

 from the United States, Germany, England, Russia -and India. 

 The rhizomes are collected in autumn, the drug from India being the 

 more aromatic, whereas the German product, on account of the 

 removal of the outer portion of the rhizome, is probably the least 

 aromatic. A confection was at one time made by " candying " 

 the fresh rhizome. 



Description. Horizontal, cylindrical, slightly compressed, usually 

 split longitudinally into pieces 5 to 15 cm. long, 5 to 12 mm. in diam- 

 eter; externally light brown or yellowish green, annulate from rem- 

 nants of circular bud-scales, upper surface with triangular leaf-scars 

 or hair-like fibers of fibrovascular tissue, the sides with large circular 

 branch-scars, and the under and side portions with root-scars or short 

 fragments of roots; fracture short; internally light brown, distinctly 

 porous, with numerous intercellular spaces, endodermis distinct; 

 odor aromatic ; taste strongly aromatic. 



Inner Structure. See Fig. 26. 



Powder. Light brown; tracheae spiral, scalariform or reticulate; 

 sclerenchymatous fibers slightly lignified, with oblique simple pores; 

 starch grains nearly spheroidal, 0.004 to 0.008 mm. in diameter; 

 crystal fibers containing monoclinic crystals of calcium oxalate; 

 oil-secretion cells with suberized walls; contents of parenchymatous 

 cells colored ruby-red by a strong alcoholic solution of vanillin and 

 hydrochloric acid. The powder of the peeled rhizome is less aromatic, 

 and cells of the epidermis and cork, and crystal fibers are wanting. 

 The yield of aqueous extract should be between 18 and 20 per cent. 

 Powdered calamus has been reported as being admixed with as much 

 as 30 per cent of diatomaceous earth. 



An Indian variety contains from 1 to 2.5 per cent of oil and is 

 mostly preferred. 



Constituents. Volatile oil 1.5 to 3.5 per cent, having the odor 

 and taste of the drug; acorin, a bitter, viscid, aromatic glucosidal 

 principle, which when hydrolized in a current of hydrogen yields oil 



