sweet flag

American  

noun

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

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sweet flag British  

noun

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

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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

Tall trees droop over the calm water, and on its margins grow spearwort, opening its big yellow cups to the sunshine, meadow rue, purple and yellow loosestrife, bog bean, and sweet flag.

From Penelope's Irish Experiences by Wiggin, Kate Douglas Smith

A few minutes later she returned with two clumps of sweet flag blades from the brookside, placed one in each of the small vases, and stood them on the twin mantels, beneath the Japanese prints.

From The Idyl of Twin Fires by Eaton, Walter Prichard

Water parsnip, sweet flag, cinquefoil, bat's blood, deadly nightshade, and oil.

From The Witch-cult in Western Europe A Study in Anthropology by Murray, Margaret Alice