Cymbopogon
Cymbopogon, also known as lemongrass, barbed wire grass, silky heads, oily heads, Cochin grass, Malabar grass, citronella grass or fever grass, is a genus of Asian, African, Australian, and tropical island plants in the grass family.
Some species are commonly cultivated as culinary and medicinal herbs because of their scent, resembling that of lemons.
The name Cymbopogon derives from the Greek words kymbe and pogon "which mean in most species, the hairy spikelets project from boat-shaped spathes." Lemongrass and its oil are believed to possess therapeutic properties.
Uses
Citronella grass grow to about and have magenta-colored base stems. These species are used for the production of citronella oil, which is used in soaps, as an insect repellent in insect sprays and candles, and aromatherapy. The principal chemical constituents of citronella, geraniol and citronellol, are antiseptics, hence their use in household disinfectants and soaps. Besides oil production, citronella grass is also used for culinary purposes as a flavoring.Culinary
East Indian lemongrass, also called Cochin grass or Malabar grass, is native to Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand, while West Indian lemongrass is native to maritime Southeast Asia. While both can be used interchangeably, C. citratus is more suitable for cooking.Folk medicine
In India, C. citratus is used as a medical herb and in perfumes. C. citratus is consumed as a tea for anxiety in Brazilian folk medicine, but a study in humans found no effect. The tea caused a recurrence of contact dermatitis in one case. Samoans and Tongans use mashed C. citratus leaves as a traditional remedy for oral infections.FDA classification
Lemongrass essential oil has been declared generally recognized as safe in food by the United States Food and Drug Administration.Folk magic
In Hoodoo, lemongrass is the primary ingredient of van van oil, one of the most popular oils used in conjure. Lemongrass is used in this preparation and on its own in hoodoo to protect against evil, spiritually clean a house, and to bring good luck in love affairs.Insect
In beekeeping, lemongrass oil imitates the pheromone emitted by a honeybee's Nasonov gland to attract bees to a hive or a swarm.Species
Species in the genus currently number 52 and include:Cymbopogon ambiguus – Australia, TimorCymbopogon annamensis – Yunnan, Laos, Vietnam, ThailandCymbopogon bhutanicus – BhutanCymbopogon bombycinus silky oilgrass – AustraliaCymbopogon caesius – Sub-Saharan Africa, Indian Subcontinent, Yemen, Afghanistan, Madagascar, Comoros, RéunionCymbopogon calcicola – Thailand, KedahCymbopogon calciphilus – ThailandCymbopogon cambogiensis – Thailand, Cambodia, VietnamCymbopogon citratus – Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, PhilippinesCymbopogon clandestinus – Thailand, Myanmar, Andaman IslandsCymbopogon coloratus – Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Myanmar, VietnamCymbopogon commutatus – Sahel, East Africa, Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, India, PakistanCymbopogon densiflorus – central + south-central AfricaCymbopogon dependens – AustraliaCymbopogon dieterlenii – Lesotho, Namibia, South AfricaCymbopogon distans – Gansu, Guizhou, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan, Nepal, northern Pakistan, Jammu & KashmirCymbopogon exsertus – Nepal, AssamCymbopogon flexuosus – Indian Subcontinent, IndochinaCymbopogon gidarba – Indian Subcontinent, Myanmar, YunnanCymbopogon giganteus – Africa, MadagascarCymbopogon globosus – Maluku, New Guinea, QueenslandCymbopogon goeringii – China, Korea, Japan incl Ryukyu Islands, VietnamCymbopogon gratus – QueenslandCymbopogon jwarancusa – Socotra, Turkey, Middle East, Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Indian Subcontinent, Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, VietnamCymbopogon khasianus – Yunnan, Guangxi, Assam, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, ThailandCymbopogon liangshanensis – SichuanCymbopogon mandalaiaensis – MyanmarCymbopogon marginatus – Cape Province of South AfricaCymbopogon martini – Indian Subcontinent, Myanmar, VietnamCymbopogon mekongensis – China, IndochinaCymbopogon microstachys Indian Subcontinent, Myanmar, Thailand, YunnanCymbopogon microthecus – Nepal, Bhutan, Assam, West Bengal, BangladeshCymbopogon minor – YunnanCymbopogon minutiflorus – SulawesiCymbopogon nardus – Indian Subcontinent, Indochina, central + southern Africa, Madagascar, SeychellesCymbopogon nervatus – Myanmar, Thailand, central AfricaCymbopogon obtectus Silky-heads – AustraliaCymbopogon osmastonii – India, BangladeshCymbopogon pendulus – Yunnan, eastern Himalayas, Myanmar, VietnamCymbopogon polyneuros – Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, MyanmarCymbopogon pospischilii – eastern + southern Africa, Oman, Yemen, Himalayas, Tibet, YunnanCymbopogon procerus – Australia, New Guinea, Maluku, Lesser Sunda Islands, SulawesiCymbopogon pruinosus – islands of Indian OceanCymbopogon queenslandicus – QueenslandCymbopogon quinhonensis – VietnamCymbopogon rectus – Lesser Sunda Islands, JavaCymbopogon refractus – Australia incl Norfolk IslandCymbopogon schoenanthus – Sahara, Sahel, eastern Africa, Arabian Peninsular, IranCymbopogon tortilis – China incl Taiwan, Ryukyu + Bonin Is, Philippines, Vietnam, MalukuCymbopogon tungmaiensis – Sichuan, Tibet, YunnanCymbopogon winterianus – Borneo, Java, SumatraCymbopogon xichangensis – Sichuan;Formerly included
Numerous species are now regarded as better suited to other genera, including Andropogon, Exotheca, Hyparrhenia, Iseilema, Schizachyrium, and Themeda.