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

Common Name: Java Citronella

General Information

Cymbopogon winterianus is a robust, aromatic, evergreen, perennial, clump-forming grass with numerous erect culms arising from a short rhizome. The culms can be up to 2.5 metres tall[].
The plant is often cultivated, mainly in Java and other parts of southeast Asia, for the essential oil contained in its leaves. This oil is widely used in the perfumery industry. This species yields up to twice as much essential oil as the related Cymbopogon nardus (which is grown mainly in Sri Lanka), and the oil is of better quality[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Only known from cultivation.

Habitat

Not known in a truly wild situation.

Properties

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

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist, lowland tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 30°c, but can tolerate 16 - 36°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,500 - 2,200mm, but tolerates 1,000 - 4,100mm[].
Grows best in a dry to moist, well-drained soil and a position in full sun[]. Some forms of the plant can tolerate water-logging[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6, tolerating 4.3 - 8[].
The first cutting is usually taken 180 - 270 days after planting, subsequent harvesting is done every 90 - 120 days and the crop last for 4 - 5 years, as yields steadily decline[].
Average yields of essential oil is usually between 45 - 110 kg/ha[]. Cultivars have been developed in India with yields of up to 385 kilos per hectare[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Poultices of the leaves are used to treat minor cuts and bruises[].

Extracts (the essential oil or a tea?[]) are used as a vermifuge and treatment for internal disorders[]. They are mildly astringent and stomachic[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is sometimes used to control erosion or to provide mulch[].

Other Uses

An essential oil is extracted from the leaves[, ]. It is widely used in perfumery products and cosmetics, either directly or as a starting material for the production of other aroma compounds[].
The complete oil is mainly used as an insect repellent for humans and pets and is used in soaps, detergents, household insecticides and technical products[].
The leaves yield 0.25 - 1.3% citronella oil, which is an almost colourless or pale yellow liquid, with a fresh and sweet rosy top note, a body with notes of rose and lemon and a sweet, somewhat woody dry-out. It is free of the camphene-borneol notes characteristic of Ceylon citronella oil (Cymbopogon nardus)[]. The major chemical components of the oil are citronellal, geraniol, elemol, geranyl acetate, limonene, 'BETA'-elemene, citronellyl acetate and eugenol[]. The oil contains around 40% citronellal[].

A preparation of crude citronella oil, mixed with the leaves of neem (Azadirachta indica) and the rhizomes of galangal (Alpinia galanga) is applied as a bio-insecticide in vegetable production and in citrus orchards[].

Propagation

Seed - this is often not formed. Seedlings should not be used, other than in breeding programmes, since they are likely to be inferior to the parent plant in essential oil production.
Division of the clumps is very easy, with the divisions rooting quickly and forming new stems within a month[].

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