Calamus

Shallow water plant that grows at the edge of the pond. Characteristic are the thick root and sword-shaped leaves up to one meter long. On the stems grow green-yellow, cone-shaped flower bulbs.

Depending on the composition of the calamus oils, 3 different forms are distinguished. Phytotherapeutically the rootstock(Calami rhizoma) is used mainly of the North American and partly also of the European variety. Due to the high content of ß-asarone of up to 80%, East Asian and Indian breeds may not be used phytotherapeutically. The ß-asarone is mutagenic, chromosome damaging and carcinogenic. North American calamus contains no ß-asarone, and European calamus contains only low concentrations (up to 13%).

Due to proven mutagenic, carcinogenic as well as reproductive toxic effects of the asarone, the use of calamus oil and other calamus products is only permitted to a limited extent, and is prohibited in the USA and Canada.

Kalmus species are perennial herbaceous plants. As perennial organs, these marsh plants form rhizomes. All parts of the plant are glabrous. If plant parts are damaged, they smell strongly aromatic. The basal and double-rowed, heavy leaves are unstalked. The six equally shaped, free petals are brownish.

Usually three (two to four) carpels have grown together to form an upper ovary with two to four (rarely five) ovules per ovary chamber. The brown to reddish, leathery fruits can be interpreted as capsule fruits or berries.

Acorus calmus is the parent plant of Calami rhizoma the dried calamus rootstock.

1. Wenigmann M. (2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs, phytopharmaceuticals, application. Urban & Fischer, pp. 136-137