Cymbopogon coloratus
(Nees) Stapf
"Lemon grass"
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Kobita Dass Kolli, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Kobita Dass Kolli
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Kobita Dass Kolli, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Description
A grass of the Poaceae family, commonly known as lemon grass, found in tropical regions.
This description is brief — help expand it
Edible Uses
The leaves are used to make tea.
Distribution
A tropical plant.
Where It Grows
Asia, Fiji, India, Myanmar, Pacific, SE Asia, Vietnam,
Cultivation
Species in this genus generally grow best in a sunny position in a moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. Many of them are found in dry soils in the wild. The grass can become highly flammable late in its growing season and thus presents a fire hazard.
Propagation
Seed - surface sow or only just cover, sowing the seeds in a nursery seedbed. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots at the 3 - 4 leaf stage and grow on until large enough to plant out. Seed can also be sown in situ, but this often results in heavy weed infestation. Division of established clumps. This is best done annually or they can become too crowded and suffer. The offshoots of this species often fail to establish.
Other Uses
An essential oil is obtained from the plant. The oil has 73 constituents at vegetative stage and 54 constituents at flowering stage. The main constituents are Camphene, Limonene, Borneol, Caryophyllene Oxide and Bisabolol etc. Three to four KGs of oil can be manufactured from a MT of grass. The fibre in the plant can be used for the manufacture of paper products such as Card sheets, File covers, Carry bags, Folders, Marble paper, Different coloured paper, Moon rock papers and Straw Boards.. The grass has as high as 3100 K. Cal /Kg of energy equivalent to F grade coal and can be used for Bio Power Generation.
Notes
There are 60 Cymbopogon species.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Rabi, Sedan, Thapangaing
References (3)
- Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 155
- Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1906:321. 1906
- Parham, H. B. R, 1940, Supplement to the Journal of the Polynesian Society No. 16. Fiji Plants: Their Name and Uses. (As Andropogon coloratus)
