Description
Sweet Flag is a perennial herb, semi aquatic,
marshy plant with a creeping and much branched,
aromatic rhizome. The rhizome is cylindrical
about 19-25 mm in diameter and 10 cm long.
It is light brown outside, white and spongy
inside. The leaves are thick, erect and sword
shape, when bruised emits strong scent. Sweet
flag produces small yellow flowers on a spike.
Plants rarely flower or set seed.
Origin and Distribution
Sweet flag is a
native to most Northern latitude countries
around the world, widely dispersed around
the USA. It is found wild or cultivated in
India and Sri Lanka up to 1800 meters.
Sweet flag thrives best in marshy and moist
places under variable climates. The plant
is grown in clayey loams and light alluvial
soils of the riverbanks.
Uses
Sweet flag is mainly
used in medicine. The oil is used to cure
gastritis. In the form of infusion it is carminative
and possesses emetic and anti-spasmodic properties.
It is used in perfumery industry. It also
has insecticidal properties. The water-ethanolic
extract of sweet flag exhibit anti-oxidant
property.
