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Useful Tropical Plants

Cymbopogon obtectus

S.T.Blake

Poaceae

+ Synonyms

Common Name: Silky Heads

No Image.

General Information

Cymbopogon obtectus is an evergreen, clump-forming, perennial grass growing up to 100cm tall[
693
Title
Bush Foods of New South Wales
Publication
 
Author
Stewart S.; Percival B.
Website
http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/education/Resources/bush_foods
Publisher
Royal Botanic gardens; Sydney, Australia.
Year
1997
ISBN
07313-0004-1
Description
A small booklet with information on more than 30 species of edible plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and essential oil. It is used in revegetation projects.
Cymbopogon obtectus has a wide distribution and tolerance of a range of environments and threats, including exposure to fire. It is not currently believed to be rare, in danger of extinction or in need of special protection. However, despite the fact that the seed is commercially available for horticulture and it has been noted as common (often the dominant species) in the past by collectors, occurrence trends have suggested that there has been a decrease in collections over time, indicating that its range should be reassessed. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

365
Title
Flora of New South Wales
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/floraonline.htm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line resource giving a brief botanical description of all the native plants of New South Wales, their habitat and range, together with diagrams and photographs of the plants.

Range

Australia - all mainland States

Habitat

A widespread plant, predominantly found in open woodlands on sandy and stony soils, usually near water courses; at elevations up to 925 metres[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Properties

Conservation StatusLeast Concern
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Perennial
Height0.70 m
PollinatorsWind
Self-fertileNo
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details


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[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The plant is ornamental when in flower and is grown in gardens[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
The plant is lemon-scented, especially in the older growth[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The aromatic leaves are chopping finely and boiled for five to ten minutes in a litre of water. The resulting yellow-green liquid is drunk as often as needed to relieve coughs and colds[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
,
693
Title
Bush Foods of New South Wales
Publication
 
Author
Stewart S.; Percival B.
Website
http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/education/Resources/bush_foods
Publisher
Royal Botanic gardens; Sydney, Australia.
Year
1997
ISBN
07313-0004-1
Description
A small booklet with information on more than 30 species of edible plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The liquid can also be used externally as a liniment for sore muscles or headaches, and as an antiseptic to treat sores[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
,
693
Title
Bush Foods of New South Wales
Publication
 
Author
Stewart S.; Percival B.
Website
http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/education/Resources/bush_foods
Publisher
Royal Botanic gardens; Sydney, Australia.
Year
1997
ISBN
07313-0004-1
Description
A small booklet with information on more than 30 species of edible plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The leaves can be rubbed into a ball and placed in the nostrils to relieve colds[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
,
693
Title
Bush Foods of New South Wales
Publication
 
Author
Stewart S.; Percival B.
Website
http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/education/Resources/bush_foods
Publisher
Royal Botanic gardens; Sydney, Australia.
Year
1997
ISBN
07313-0004-1
Description
A small booklet with information on more than 30 species of edible plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

A liquid made from the root can be poured into the ear to relieve earaches[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Agroforestry Uses:

This species has many uses including revegetation[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Other Uses

The leaves contain a lemon-scented essential oil suitable for perfumes[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

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[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
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[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Cymbopogon+obtectus>

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