442 SPICES 



CHAP. 



as a large pea, with one or two seeds. The rhizome is 

 much larger than that of the lesser galangal. 



The plant is known as Lankwas by the Malays. 



Garcia da Orta distinguishes it from the lesser 

 galangal, and gives a rough woodcut of its rhizome 

 dried. As he says, it is inferior to, and weaker in 

 strength than the true galangal. 



The dried rhizome is readily distinguished by its 

 greater size, and the pale buff colour of the inside 

 contrasting conspicuously with the orange brown outer 

 skin. It seems to be little used except as an inferior 

 sort of galangal. Pomet (Livre des drogues) says it 

 is used in the manufacture of vinegar. It is sold in the 

 Singapore markets in a fresh state for use in curries, 

 being considered a necessary ingredient. 



CALAMUS ROOT SWEET FLAG 



Calamus root is the rhizomes of Acorns Calamus, L., 

 of the order Aroideae, a native of northern Asia from 

 the Black Sea to China and Japan and North America. 

 It occurs also in Europe as far north as Scotland and 

 northern Russia, India, Burma, Ceylon, and the Malay 

 region, but is probably introduced into these countries. 

 Although, especially in the Indo-Malay region, it is 

 chiefly valued as a drug, it is in some request for flavour- 

 ing beer, and hence may be classed as a spice. 



Acorus Calamus, L., is a herb with a cylindrical 

 rhizome, branched and emitting numerous roots, and 

 erect, narrow, sword-like acute leaves, about 3 in. long and 

 1 in. wide, arranged distichously. The inflorescence is 

 a dense cylindric spike, borne laterally upon a flattened 

 leaf-like stem, which is terminated by a short sword-like 

 leaf, so that it appears as if the spike were borne on the 

 side of a leaf. The flowers are very small and closely 

 packed together, of a green colour. 



The plant grows on the margins of streams, lakes, or 

 ponds, or in damp ditches, and is commonly cultivated 

 in small patches all over the Eastern tropics. 



