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Useful Tropical Plants

Cymbopogon bombycinus

(R.Br.) Domin

Poaceae

+ Synonyms

Andropogon bombycinus R.Br.

Andropogon exaltatus lanatus (R.Br.) Hack.

Andropogon lanatus R.Br.

Andropogon procerus schultzii Hack.

Sorghum bombycinum (R.Br.) Kuntze

Common Name: Silky Oil Grass

No Image.

General Information

Cymbopogon bombycinus is an evergreen, clump-forming grass with erect culms 30 - 100cm tall.
The plant is harvested from the wild for its essential oil.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

Australia - Queensland, Northern Territory, northern South Australia, Western Australia

Habitat

Found in various soil types, even drifting sands.

Properties

Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Perennial
Height0.70 m
Cultivation StatusWild

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 hasdeeply-penetrating, wiry roots and, once established is very drought tolerant.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

An extract of the leaves is used in commercial cosmetic preparations as an antioxidant and skin conditioner[
1243
Title
CosIng
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
CosIng is the European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients.
].

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. 2024-12-05. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Cymbopogon+bombycinus>

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