THE ARUM FAMILY 
191 
II. *SWEET SEDGE. (AC'ORUS. Linn.) — Flowers minute, perfect, densely clustered round 
the stalkless spadix, which has at its base a leaf-like green spathe ascending in the same line 
as the stalk from the root (scape) which bears it ; the spadix ascends at an angle from it and 
appears to be in the axil of a leaf. Perianth of 6 membranous oblong lobes, inserted below the 
seedcase (inferior) ; stamens 6, inserted at the base of the perianth-lobes ; carpels 2 or 3, united 
into a seedcase with the same number of cells, and 2 or 3 stigmas situated on the seedcase (ovary) 
without styles ; fruit 1-3 -seeded, dry, decaying to free the seeds (indehiscent). Water or marsh 
plants, with a creeping root and narrow sword-shaped (ensiform) leaves. 
*Sweet Sedge, Sweet Flag, Sweet Rush. (Ac'orus Calamus. Linn.)— As just 
described. The only British species. A reed-like plant, growing in water, with the spadix 
2-4 inches long, cylindrical, yellowish-green, densely covered with flowers ; the leaves are dark 
green, sword-shaped, and very fragrant. The whole plant is aromatic and when bruised has an 
extremely pleasant fragrant smell, and was used for strewing floors before the universal use of 
carpets. [Plate 62. 
Local, rare. In water ; thoughout the south of England, near the site of monasteries in other 
parts, a doubtful native in Scotland, and rare in Ireland. June — July. Perennial. 
