Common Name:

General Information

Cymbopogon clandestinus is an erect, perennial grass with solitary culms 100 - 200cm tall. The culms have prop-roots near their base.
The plant is harvested from the wild as a source of essential oils. It is sometimes cultivated for the essential oils[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Myanmar, Thailand, Andaman Islands

Habitat

Dry, rocky places and in open forest on hillsides.

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	1.50 m
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, 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[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

An essential oil is obtained from the leaves[]. The oil has a light straw-colour, with a pleasant smell, somewhat resembling ginger-grass oil.

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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