1. A tropical Asian plant with long, sword-shaped leaves, yielding an aromatic oil used in perfumes and medicines.
Usage: Also called sweet flag or sweet cane.; Scientific name: Acorus calamus.
2. The aromatic rhizome or root of this plant, used historically in traditional medicine and as a flavoring.
Usage: Often dried and used in herbal preparations.
3. In classical and medieval literature, a writing reed or pen made from a hollow stem.
Usage: archaic; literary

Examples

• Calamus oil has been used in traditional medicine for centuries.
• The calamus plant grows in wetlands and marshy areas.
• Ancient scribes carved their texts with a calamus pen.
• Dried calamus root is sometimes added to herbal tea blends.
• The sweet fragrance of calamus made it popular in medieval perfumery.
• Calamus leaves can reach several feet in length.