Acorus gramineus
| Acorus gramineus | |
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| Species: | A. gramineus
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| Binomial name | |
| Acorus gramineus Sol. Aiton, 1789
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Acorus gramineus is a botanical species belonging to the genus Acorus.
Common Name
Dwarf sedge, Japanese rush, Japanese sweet flag
Origin
Native to Japan in eastern Asia, where it usually occurs in wetlands and shallow water.
Description
This shrubby plant's long, narrow, slightly curved leaves may grow to 30 cm (12 inches) in height. It can grow fully or partially submerged, or in very moist soil, but it will usually only flower when at least partially submerged.
Var. pusillus has slightly shorter, more rigid glossy green leaves, while var. variegatus has longer leaves streaked with yellow.
Cultivation and uses
Acorus gramineus spreads aggressively by rhizome, creating a nearly-seamless groundcover where conditions are favorable, and it is frequently used around the edges of ponds and water gardens,[1] as well as submerged in freshwater aquaria. It can be propagated by dividing the fleshy underwater rhizome and planting the base in shallow water.
In Japan during the Heian period, leaves of the plant were gathered for the Sweet Flag Festival on the fifth day of the fifth month. Sweet flag and wormwood were spread on the roofs of houses for decoration and to ward off evil spirits. Special herbal balls made of sweet flag were also fashioned for the occasion.
Notes
References
- Simon & Schuster's Guide to Freshwater and Marine Aquarium Fishes. New York, New York, United States: Simon & Schuster, Inc. 1976. ISBN 0-671-22809-9.
- Sei Shōnagon (2006). The Pillow Book. Translated by Meredith McKinney. London, England: Penguin Books, Ltd. pp. 41–42, 282. ISBN 0-140-44806-3.