Cymbopogon citratus

Cymbopogon citratus, commonly known as West Indian lemon grass or simply lemon grass, is a tropical plant native to South Asia and Maritime Southeast Asia and introduced to many tropical regions. Cymbopogon citratus is often sold in stem form. While it can be grown in warmer temperate regions, it is not hardy to frost.

Description

A coarse clumpy grass about 1 m high. It forms dense tufts and clumps. The stems are hollow and cane like. The leaves have a rough edge and are about 1 m long by 1 cm wide. They curve over. They are pale blue-green. It very rarely produces flowers. When flowers are produced they are in a loose branched panicle. These are 5 cm long. It has a lemon smell when crushed.

Edible Uses

The heart of young shoots is eaten as a vegetable with rice. The basal portions of the leafy shoots have a delicious lemon-like aroma and are used to flavour soups, sauces, and curries. Older leaves can be cooked with other foods to impart their lemon flavour, then removed before serving. A refreshing tea can be brewed from the leaves, served hot or cold and sweetened with sugar if desired. The essential oil is also used as a flavouring in the food industry, including in soft drinks and various foods.

Traditional Uses

It is mostly used as a flavouring in lemon grass tea and stews. The leaves can be dried and stored for use in tea. The very young fleshy white bases of the shoots are used in Asian cooking. The outer layers are peeled off.

Medicinal Uses

Lemongrass was one of the herbs transported along the spice route from Asia to Europe. It is a bitter, aromatic, cooling herb that increases perspiration and relieves spasms. The essential oil is an effective antifungal and antibacterial, containing around 70% citral along with citronellal, both of which are markedly sedative. Internally, it is used mainly as a tea for digestive problems, relaxing the muscles of the stomach and gut to relieve cramping pains and flatulence. It is particularly useful for children, for whom it is also used to treat minor feverish illnesses. Externally, especially as the extracted essential oil, it treats conditions including athlete's foot, ringworm, lice, and scabies, and is applied to ease pain in arthritic joints.

Distribution

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It occurs in coastal areas and up to at least 1400 m altitude. It is a good plant for borders and erosion control. They are frost tender. It needs a temperature above 10°C to grow. It needs good drainage. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 2,700 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. In Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Africa, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo DR, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, FSM, Gabon, Grenada, Guatemala, French Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosrae, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marquesas, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niger, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Peru, Philippines, Pohnpei, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Rotuma, Rwanda, Sahel, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago,Tuvalu, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

It is grown from portions of the clump. A spacing of about 1 m between clumps is needed. Plants can be easily grown by putting the stem end of a shoot in water until roots form then planting out. It can also be grown by seeds. Being very small they are mixed with ash or sand. They can be sown directly. They can also be put in a nursery and transplanted.

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by division of established clumps. Division is best done annually, as clumps that are left too long can become overcrowded and deteriorate.

Other Uses

Lemongrass can be used as a companion plant to deter pests and is useful for improving soil quality and preventing erosion due to its dense root system. It is a good soil conditioner on worn-out land, quickly producing bulk organic material that rots down, attracts worms and other beneficial creatures, and enriches the soil. A row of plants can act as a garden divider to contain more invasive plants such as sweet potato and to keep weeds out. The essential oil is used in perfumery, in scenting soaps, hair oils, and cosmetics, and as an insect repellent. It is also used in the synthesis of vitamin A. The oil is cytotoxic, with insecticidal, larvicidal, nematicidal, pro-oxidative, repellent, and vasorelaxant activity, which could potentially be exploited for pesticidal or chemotherapeutic applications. The plant's strong citrus scent can deter certain garden pests.

Production

It can be cut 4-8 months after planting and then every 3-4 months. Harvesting can continue to 3-4 years.

Other Information

It is sold in local markets. It is cultivated.

Notes

Lemon grass oil is used in perfumes and medicines. There are 56 Cymbopogon species. It has 2.3 mg per 100 g dry weight and 1.12 mg fresh weight of alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E).

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Agin ghas, Belgata, Bhustrina, Caboi, limon, Cana santa, Canita de Cedron, Capim-limao, Chirichri, Du'ut-morin, Enyait, Erva-cidreira, Fiji char, Gandhabena, Gandhatrina, Ge lao dang, Ghanda, Herva chaha, Herva chela, Heung masu tso, Hierba luisa, Hirua cha, Kaasinjee, Kagatighaans, Kagati ghas, Khawi, Lili cha, Limoncillo, Limonska trava, Liwisa, Mah keng, Majjigehullu, Mao xiang cao, Moegalo, Moejara, Nimmagaddi, Olecha, Pirheghaans, Po pi, Reh pwo mwahu, Remon gurasu, Remon-sou, Sabalin, Sa chanh, Saineroil, Sa kai, Sera, Serai, Sere, Sereh betul, Sereh makan, Sereh sayur, Sereh, Shahai, Shakai, Shishovi, Sinda, Sinda dimputu, Sinde, Slek krei sabu, Sok aphi, Sontol, Ta krai, Takrai, Tanglad, Tanlag, Thej sar, Vasanappillu, Vasanappulla, Veromanitra, West Indian lemongrass, Xa, Xiang mao coa, Yerba de limon, Zabalin, Zacate limon

References (92)

• Agea, J. G., et al 2011, Wild and Semi-wild Food Plants of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom of Uganda: etc. Environmental Research Journal 5(2) 74-86
• Alegado, A. M. & De Guzman, R. B., 2014, Indigenous food crops of the Aetas tribe in the Philippines and their traditional methods of food preparation. in Promotion of Underutilized Indigenous Food Resources for Food Security and Nutrition in Asia and Pacific. FAO. Bangkok p 160
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 155
• Anderson, E. F., 1993, Plants and people of the Golden Triangle. Dioscorides Press. p 208
• Bernholt, H. et al, 2009, Plant species richness and diversity in urban and peri-urban gardens of Niamey, Niger. Agroforestry Systems 77:159-179

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