What does "calamus" mean?

Calamus: (Bot.) A species of Acorus (A. calamus), commonly called calamus, or sweet flag. The root has a pungent, aromatic taste, and is used in medicine as a stomachic; the leaves have an aromatic odor, and were formerly used instead of rushes to strew on floors.

Additional senses

  1. 2.(Zoöl.) The horny basal portion of a feather; the barrel or quill.

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