Superficially, Sweet Flag resembles cat tails but it is a member of the
Arum family. It derives it name from the sweet fragrance and flavor of
the roots which were used to make candy.

js

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"P van Rijckevorsel" wrote in message
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Superficially, Sweet Flag resembles cat tails

More like Iris leaves than like Typha.

but it is a member of the
Arum family. It derives it name from the sweet fragrance and flavor of
the roots which were used to make candy.

Actually, it does not belong to the Arum family.

This interesting story probably could use some elaboration.
A longer, but still short, version:

Although long classified in the arum family Araceae, "Sweet Flag"
[_Acorus calamus_ and a few other species of Acorus] have been
shown by molecular phylogenetic studies to be extremely distant
from the true aroids.

_Acorus_ is now placed in its own family Acoraceae, which is alone
in its own order Acorales.

[In contrast, it turns out that the duckweeds, traditionally a
separate family Lemnaceae, do belong within the arum family]

Acorus/Acoraceae/Acorales is evidently a very isolated, ancient
lineage, and according to several studies represents the living
sister group to all other monocotyledons.

http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.as...taxon_id=20008
http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/Research/APweb/welcome.html

cheers