The plant was introduced to Britain in the late 16th century. By at least 1596, true "Acorus calamus" was grown in Britain, as it is listed in "The Catalogue", a list of plants John Gerard grew in his garden at Holborn. Gerard notes "It prospereth exceeding well in my garden, but as yet beareth neither flowers nor stalke". Gerard lists the Latin name as "Acorus verus", but it is evident there was still doubt about its veracity: in his 1597 herbal he lists the English common name as 'bastard calamus'. Carl O. Sauer reported the tuber to have been used by North American Indians at the time of European discovery.