This species is very closely related to Java citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus), and the two species have sometimes been treated as different forms of the same species as Cymbopogon nardus lenabatu (this species) and Cymbopogon nardus mahapengiri (Java citronella)[, , ].

Common Name: Ceylon Citronella

General Information

Cymbopogon nardus is an aromatic, evergreen, clump-forming perennial grass growing up to 2.5 metres tall from a stout rootstock[].
The plant is sometimes cultivated in tropical areas for its essential oil, which is used as a food flavouring[]. It yields an inferior essential oil to the closely related C. Winterianus, but it is sometimes cultivated, especially in Sri Lanka, where its tolerance of poorer soils and drought make it a worthwhile crop[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Eastern Africa - Sudan to S. Africa; E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka.

Habitat

Grassland and open woodland of Acacia and Combretum on the hills in Uganda[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	2.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist, lowland tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,500 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 30°c, but can tolerate 16 - 36°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,300 - 2,000mm, but tolerates 750 - 4,100mm[].
Prefers a moisture-retentive soil in full sun[]. Prefers a pH in the range 4.5 - 6, tolerating 4 - 8[].
A first harvest of the leaves for essential oils can be obtained after about 240 days; the plant can then be harvested every 90 - 120 days for about 10-15 years[].
Lemongrass should be stored separately from other foods, or should be well wrapped, otherwise its strong scent will taint the other foods[].

Edible Uses

The leaves are used as a flavouring in curries, soups etc[, ].
The white centre of the succulent stems is used to impart a flavour to curries[].

An aromatic tea can be obtained from the leaves[, ].

An essential oil is obtained from the plant. This oil contains geraniol, citral and citronellal. It is much used by the food industry to flavour a wide range of foods[]. Citral can be used to imitate apple, lemon, strawberry and vanilla flavours[].

Medicinal

The leaves are antispasmodic, diaphoretic, digestive and stimulant[]. An infusion of the leaves is used to treat diarrhoea spasms[]. An infusion of the leaves, with alcoholic spirits or sweet spirits of nitre, is used to treat colds[].

Other Uses

An essential oil is obtained from whole plant by steam distillation[]. It is used in varnishes, insecticides, perfumery, for scenting low-priced technical products such as detergents, soaps, sprays and polishes[, ].

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[].

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