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Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle
Family Name: | Poaceae (Gramineae) |
Common Name: | Citronella Grass, Ceylon Citronella |
Name
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Classifications and Characteristics
Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
Plant Growth Form | Grass & Grass-like Plant (Tall Grass (Poaceae)) |
Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Plant Shape | Grassy |
Maximum Height | 1.5 m to 2.5 m |
Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 1 m to 1.5 m |
Biogeography
Native Distribution | South Sudan to South Africa, India to Vietnam |
Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Local Conservation Status | Exotic (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
Growth Form | Perennial grass forms clumps up to 2.5 m tall. |
Stems | The pseudostem (the base of the leaf blade) is reddish. |
Similar | Citronella (scientific name: Cymbopogon nardus) looks like Lemongrass (scientific name: Cymbopogon citratus) but it has a wider leaf blade and the base of the stem (technically known as a pseudostem) is reddish, while Lemongrass has a green one. |
Cultivation | It grows best in bright, but filtered light and leaves may be burned by intense sun. |
Ethnobotanical Uses | [Others]: Essential oil extracted from the leaves is used as a mosquito repellent. |
Landscaping Features
Desirable Plant Features | |
Plant & Rootzone Preference - Tolerance | Dry Soils / Drought |
Thematic Landscaping | Economic Garden |
Plant Care and Propagation
Light Preference | Semi-Shade |
Foliar
Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
Foliar Shape(s) | |
Foliar Venation | Parallel |
Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
Image Repository
Images |
Others
Master ID | 29582 |
Species ID | 3891 |
Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |