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The basalmost monocot genus Acorus is well-known for its use in traditional oriental medicine. It comprises the groups of A. calamus and A. gramineus. A recent study recognized three species in the latter group, A. gramineus, A. macrospadiceus, and A. tatarinowii. The material currently known as A. tatarinowii has been extensively studied as a source of various chemical compounds and for producing the first published genome of Acorus, which is important for understanding the origin and evolution of monocots. Using the data from morphology, anatomy, and biogeography, we argue that the type material of A. tatarinowii does not match the interpretation of the species name as adopted in the current literature and herbarium collections (to a taxon of the A. gramineus group from Southeast Asia) but rather belongs to the A. calamus group. Moreover, the name A. macrospadiceus also cannot be used because it was invalidly published. Under a narrow species concept, other appropriate species names should be found or proposed for the plants currently named A. tatarinowii and A. macrospadiceus. However, we discourage the use of a narrow species concept in the A. gramineus group as insufficiently justified and suggest recognizing a single polymorphic species, A. gramineus s.l., at least until a comprehensive taxonomic revision of the group is available. Apart from the presentation of our revised taxonomic framework, we update the geographical distributions of Acorus species in Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.

A comprehensive compilation is provided of the medicinal plants of the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar (formerly Burma). This contribution, containing 123 families, 367 genera, and 472 species, was compiled from earlier treatments, monographs, books, and pamphlets, with some medicinal uses and preparations translated from Burmese to English. The entry for each species includes the Latin binomial, author(s), common Myanmar and English names, range, medicinal uses and preparations, and additional notes. Of the 472 species, 63 or 13% of them have been assessed for conservation status and are listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN 2017). Two species are listed as Extinct in the Wild, four as Threatened (two Endangered, two Vulnerable), two as Near Threatened, 48 Least Concerned, and seven Data Deficient. Botanic gardens worldwide hold 444 species (94%) within their living collections, while 28 species (6%) are not found any botanic garden. Preserving the traditional knowledge of Myanmar healers contributes to Target 13 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation.

Acorus calamus Linnaeus var. verus Linnaeus, Species Plantarum 1: 324. 1753. "Habitat in Indiae fossis paludosis." RCN: 2527. Lectotype (Nicolson & al., Interpret. Van Rheede’s Hort. Malab. : 274. 1988): [icon] “Vaembu” in Rheede, Hort. Malab. 11: 99, t. 48. 1692. Current name: Acorus calamus L. (Acoraceae)., Published as part of Jarvis, Charlie, 2007, Chapter 7: Linnaean Plant Names and their Types (part A), pp. 252-342 in Order out of Chaos. Linnaean Plant Types and their Types, London :Linnaean Society of London in association with the Natural History Museum on page 258, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.291971

Acorus calamus, spec. nov. 1. Acorus. Roy. lugdb. 6. Fl. suec. 277. Mat. med. 16. Habitat �� in Europae , �� in Indiae fossis paludosis. ���, Published as part of Linnaeus, Carolus, 1753, Species plantarum: exhibentes plantas rite cognitas, ad genera relatas, cum differentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema sexuale digestas, Stockholm :Laurentius Salvius on page 324, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3931989

Acorus calamus var. vulgaris, var. nov. ��. Acorus verus s. Calamus aromaticus officinarum. Bauh. pin. 34. Hort. cliff. 137. Typha aromatica, clava rugosa. Moris. hist. 3. p. 246. s. 8. t. 13. f.4., Published as part of Linnaeus, Carolus, 1753, Species plantarum: exhibentes plantas rite cognitas, ad genera relatas, cum differentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema sexuale digestas, Stockholm :Laurentius Salvius on page 324, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3931989

Acorus calamus var. verus, var. nov. ��. Acorus asiaticus, radice tenuiore. Herm. lugdb. 9. Fl. zeyl. 132. Waembu. Rheed. mal. 11. p. 99. t. 60., Published as part of Linnaeus, Carolus, 1753, Species plantarum: exhibentes plantas rite cognitas, ad genera relatas, cum differentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema sexuale digestas, Stockholm :Laurentius Salvius on page 324, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3931989