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 Lanhwas 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 A corns 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 Kussia, 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. 
