sweet flag

American  

noun

1. a plant, Acorus calamus, of the arum family, having long, sword-shaped leaves and a pungent, aromatic rootstock.

---

sweet flag British  

noun

1. Also called: calamus.  an aroid marsh plant, Acorus calamus, having swordlike leaves, small greenish flowers, and aromatic roots

---

Etymology

Origin of sweet flag

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sweet flag

Many species — such as black mondo grass or Japanese sweet flag grass — can survive in cold weather, but they typically can’t withstand the weight of snow, according to Prinzing.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 20, 2022

The lake was layered with sweet flag, sedge, lilies, horehound, bulrush and buckbean.

From New York Times ● Oct. 21, 2016

She plunged into a swampy hollow where clusters of tall catstail, sweet flag and sedgy rushes grew around a little pond, swarming with trout and gold fish.

From A Noble Woman by Stephens, Ann S. (Ann Sophia)

"Pardon me," said Lulu, just like a telephone girl, "but did I understand you to say you were going for some sweet flag root for the fairy prince?"

From Lulu, Alice and Jimmie Wibblewobble by Garis, Howard Roger

Among the other substances generally employed in its manufacture are angelica root, sweet flag, dittany leaves, star-anise fruit, fennel and hyssop.

From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg