Common Name:

General Information

Cymbopogon schoenanthus is a compact, tufted, evergreen, perennial grass growing about 30 - 60cm tall[].
The plant is gathered from the wild, and also occasionally cultivated, for its essential oil which is used medicinally and in perfumery[]. Much esteemed by the ancient Greeks and Romans, the oil is still sold sometimes in local markets[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Northern Africa from Mauritania to Egypt, through Arabia to India.

Habitat

Open habitats in dry soils[]. On dry stony ground of sub-desert bushland[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in drier areas of the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate areas.
Grows best in a dry to moist, well-drained soil and a position in full sun[]. Plants resume growth very quickly when rains end a dry period[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

All parts of the plant are aromatic, wherefore there is a variety of medicinal usages[].

The inner core of the rhizome is eaten as an aphrodisiac[].

An infusion of the inflorescence is drunk in the treatment of fevers[]. The inflorescence is used to produce an abortion[].
The mashed up flowers, or ashes of the plant, are applied to guinea worm-sores[].

The grass is used for treating snake-bites[].
The leaves, pounded with a little water, are used as an embrocation for relieving aches in the body[].

Smoke from the burning grass is said to dispel temporary maniacal symptoms[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is grown to control soil erosion in S. America[].

Other Uses

Distillation of the roots and leaves yields a fragrant oil known as 'camel grass oil', but this species is not one of the main sources of cymbopogon oils, and its oil is chemically distinct from citronella oil[]. The oil is sometimes used in perfumery[].

The grass is commonly used for thatching and for screens[, , ]. Wells dug in sandy soil are revetted with the culms of the grass, whilst it is also chopped up and mixed with clay for building huts, used for zaanaa matting, and by nomads for covering their huts[].

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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