Acoraceae

Non-woody (herbaceous) perennial wetland plants with narrow sword-like parallel-veined linear leaves crowded together at the base of the plant, a pleasant aromatic fragrance, especially when parts of the plant are pinched or crushed, and its many tiny flowers crowded together on and obscuring a long fleshy stalk (collectively forming a structure called a spadix) that curves upward from the side of a leaf-like structure; Sweetflags.

Flowers have 3 sepals and 3 petals that are short, broad, similar to one another and not petal-like; contain both pollen- and seed-producing structures. Stamens 6. Carpels 2 or 3, fused, ovary located above the site where the other flower parts join, style short, broad and undivided. Fruit a berry that appears hard and dry on the outside and is gelatinous inside.

Narrow sword-like parallel-veined linear leaves crowded at the base of the plant. Differentiated from Iris leaves by their central ridge and sweet fragrance.

Above-ground portions of plants arising from a stout underground stem (rhizome) used for medicinal properties and candied as a confection. Was formerly classified as part of the Arum family, but contains ethereal oils in specialized round cells and lacks needle-shaped crystals arranged in bundles.