Acorus
(from a, without, and kore, the pupil of the eye; in allusion to its reputed medicinal qualities). ORD. Aroideae (Araceae). A small genus of hardy herbaceous plats. Flowers on a sessile spadix; perianth six-cleft, inferior, persistent. The species thrive best in a moist soil, and are very suitable for the banks of water, or even as aquatics in shallow water. Propagated easily by divisions during spring.
A. Calamus (sweet-flag).* fl. yellowish, small, borne on a cylindrical spadix 4in. to 6in. long. Summer. l. sword-shaped, erect, striated 3ft. long. The root is cylindrical, channeled, and very fragrant. Europe. The variety with gold-striped leaves is more useful as a decorative plant. A. gramineus (Grass-leaved). China, 196. This is much smaller in all its parts than the above, but very pretty.
A. g. variegates (variegated).* A pretty variety with white-striped leaves, forming handsome little tufts.