What is "calami"

Calamus \Cal"a*mus\, n.; pl. Calami. [L., a reed. See Halm.]

1. (Bot.) The indian cane, a plant of the Palm family. It furnishes the common rattan. See Rattan, and Dragon's blood.

2. (Bot.) A species of Acorus ( Acorus 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.

3. (Zo["o]l.) The horny basal portion of a feather; the barrel or quill. [1913 Webster] ||

n. (plural of calamus English)

See calamus

1. n. any tropical Asian palm of the genus Calamus; light tough stems are a source of rattan canes

2. the aromatic root of the sweet flag used medicinally

3. perennial marsh plant having swordlike leaves and aromatic roots [syn: sweet flag, sweet calamus, myrtle flag, flagroot, Acorus calamus]

4. a genus of Sparidae [syn: genus Calamus]

5. the hollow shaft of a feather [syn: quill, shaft]

6. [also: calami (pl)]