Flower

Family: Araceae
English common name: Calamus; Sweet Flag
Polish common name: Kalmus, Tatarskie Ziele; Ajar;
Szuwar
German common name: Schilf

1. Botanical description
The rhizome is thick, cylindrical, greenish on top, spongy inside, and soft and white.
The stalk is angular, reddish at the bottom. It grows up to 1 m. Leaves are grass-green, equally narrow, fleshy and lanceolate.
The flowers are a finger-like spike (cob). The fruit forms only in warmer climates.
The taste is bitter, spicy, similar to ginger. Very pleasant smell.

2. Origin and distribution
It originated in Asia, most likely in India and Arabia. It grows profusely along ponds, creeks and rivers. Prefers swamps or wet areas. It was introduced into Europe by invasions of Tartars in the sixteenth century.

3. Cultivation
Acorus calamus may be propagated from split rhizomes. End of summer is the best time as one can then collect the rhizomes by lifting these with a garden fork. The split rhizomes must have some roots left on them. Plant by burying in wet ground. Care must be taken not to plant them in places where water, in the wet season, is higher than 15 cm above the roots. Roots planted in areas of deeper water coverage will rot.

4. Harvest

Spring is the time to collect rhizomes of Calamus. The washed rhizomes are chopped finely after first remov­ing the dark outer skin, using a stiff brush. They are then dried in the open air and shade or in a slow oven. Forced drying yields an inferior product which turns brown. Store in air-tight containers or plastic bags. Attention: While harvesting wild Calamus. people often erroneously harvest the yellow iris (Iris pseu­dacarus L.) instead of Calamus. The rhizomes of iris have a strong astringent taste but no smell. They are reddish-brown inside as well as outside.

5. Active elements
2.8 per cent volatile aromatic oil; 2 per cent bitter, hard resin; 2 per cent soft, sharp-tasting resin.

6. Use
Calamus is an excellent aid to the digestive system.
(a) External: As an analgesic for toothache and as a mouthwash and gargle; as an eyewash for inflamed eyes.
Water-concentrate from boiled rhizomes is excel­lent for addition to bath-water and for vaginal douches.
(b) Internal: Calamus powder (6 g/day) fortreatment of ailments of digestive tract, especially for diarrhoea, gall- and kidney-stones. It relieves flatulence.
Fresh rhizomes taste very much like ginger and are often fried in sugar, or an alcohol-extract is prepared from them (e.g. white wine). This, in concentrated form, (l 0-15 drops/day) is used to relieve stomach­ache.
In Persia and Arabia sugar-fried rhizomes are sold in markets and are in great demand.

7. Trade name

Rhizama calami mundatum.

Family: Rosaceae
English common name: Lady's Mantle
Polish common names: Nawrotnik; Nawrotek; Lwia
Lapa.
German common name: Frauenmatel (Frauenmantel)

1. Botanical description
A creeping plant which rises to flower (15-25 em).
The leaves at the bottom are much larger than those farther up the stem, where they gradually become stalkless. The lower leaves have a 7-10 part division while those at the top have a 5-7 part divi­sion. The leaves are hairy on both sides and have deeply serrated margins.
The flowers are in umbels, inconspicuous, small, crownless and pale yellow-green. The calyx has 8 petals, with a simulated division.
The fruit is single, smooth and conical. The taste is tart, astringent, sweetish-slimy, sometimes with a slightly bitter after-taste. The smell faintly resembles that of balsam.

2. Origin and distribution Native of North Africa and Asia.

3. Cultivation
Sow by broadcasting the wild collected seeds. Grows in hedges, meadows, idle land and a sunny position in groves. Prefers clay and rich, humus-laden soil.

4. Harvest
Collect the whole plant including stems, leaves and flowers during blossoming time in early summer'. Dry in semi-shade in a drafty position.

5. Active elements Tannic acid; bitteline.

6. Use
Extracts are astringent and act as an expectorant; it is also used to improve muscular tone.
Water-extracts are used to correct loose bowels, flaccid guts, stop bleeding and heal ulceration. Also recommended as a treatment for rheumatism and catarrh of the respiratory tract.

7. Farm use
Swiss dairy-farmers consider Alchemilla a most wel­come addition to cows' fodder as it increases milk out­put considerably.

8. Trade name
Herba alchemillae.

Family: Malvaceae
English common name: Mallow
Polish common name: Czarna Malwa; Roza Rajska German common name: Malve
1. Botanical description
Mallow is generally known as an ornamental garden flower.
The root is thick, long, and spindle-shaped.
The stem is straight and grows from 1.5 to 2 m. It is round and covered with green-grey hairs.
The leaves come in many shapes, but are usually palmately divided. All are hairy and light green.
The flowers, which grow in the leafaxils, come in many colours, but prevalently pink. They have almost no calyx.
The seed is large, brown and smooth. The taste is tart-slimy. The flowers have a very faint scent but the other parts of this plant have none.
2. Origin and distribution
It grows wild in Greece, Turkey and Syria and prefers soils rich in lime and mulch. It has been introduced to all continents, but in France and Germany there are large, commercial plantations.
3. Cultivation
For commercial purposes a variety which has dark purple, almost black, flowers is grown. The soil must be damp but not wet or the plant will rot, and if it is too dry the plant will not thrive. Manure is the best fertilizer but superphosphate also serves well.
Plant the seeds in seed-boxes and then transplant the seedlings, spaced 60 em apart, into beds. It enjoys heavy soils containing an abundance of lime, and . es sunny, wind-sheltered positions.

After two years of flowering the flowers grow pro­gressively smaller so that two years cultivation is the maximum for commercial purposes. It flowers from early summer to late autumn. The dried flowers have a bluish tint 4. Harvest
Collect only the petals of the flowers, shortly before they are fully developed. Early morning or late after­noon are the best times. The petals should be dried, spaced well apart so that they do not overlap.
5. Active elements
Mucilage, potassium, calcium, tannin.
6. Use
Soothes and relieves cramps. It also stimulates the menstrual flow.
The boiled petals are used as a poultice against bruises and the brew as a· mouthwash in cases of inflammation. It also relieves hoarseness and cough.
In commerce the dark flowers of mallow are used to give body and permanence to red coloured wines.
7. Trade name

Flores malvae arboreae.