Cymbopogon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Lemongrass" redirects here. For other uses, see Lemongrass (disambiguation).

Lemongrass
YosriNov04Pokok Serai.JPG
Cymbopogon citratus
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Panicoideae
Supertribe:
Tribe: Andropogoneae
Subtribe:
Genus: Cymbopogon
Spreng.[1]
Type species
Cymbopogon schoenanthus
(L.) Spreng.[2]
Synonyms[3][4]
  • Andropogon sect. Cymbopogon (Spreng.) Steud.
  • Andropogon subg. Cymbopogon (Spreng.) Nees
  • Gymnanthelia Andersson

Cymbopogon, also known as lemongrass, barbed wire grass, silky heads, Cochin grass, Malabar grass, oily heads, citronella grass or fever grass, is a genus of Asian, African, Australian, and tropical island plants in the grass family.[5][6][7][8] Some species (particularly Cymbopogon citratus) are commonly cultivated as culinary and medicinal herbs because of their scent, resembling that of lemons (Citrus limon). The name cymbopogon derives from the Greek words kymbe (κύμβη, 'boat') and pogon (πώγων, 'beard') "which mean [that] in most species, the hairy spikelets project from boat-shaped spathes."[9]

Uses[]

C. citratus from the Philippines, where it is locally known as tanglad

Citronella grass (Cymbopogon nardus and Cymbopogon winterianus) grow to about 2 metres (6+1⁄2 feet) and have magenta-colored base stems. These species are used for the production of citronella oil, which is used in soaps, as an insect repellent (especially mosquitoes and houseflies) in insect sprays and candles, and in aromatherapy. The principal chemical constituents of citronella, geraniol and citronellol, are antiseptics, hence their use in household disinfectants and soaps. Besides oil production, citronella grass is also used for culinary purposes, as a flavoring.

East Indian lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus), also called Cochin grass or Malabar grass, is native to Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, India, Sri Lanka, Burma, and Thailand, while West Indian lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is native to maritime Southeast Asia. While both can be used interchangeably, C. citratus is more suitable for cooking.

In India, C. citratus is used both as a medical herb and in perfumes. C. citratus is consumed as a tea for anxiety in Brazilian folk medicine,[10] but a study in humans found no effect.[11] The tea caused a recurrence of contact dermatitis in one case.[12] In the Caribbean, the tea is also brewed and consumed to boost immunity.

One study found the tea may exert an erythropoiesis boosting effect.[13]

In Hoodoo, lemongrass is the primary ingredient of , one of the most popular oils used in conjure.[14] Lemongrass is used in this preparation and on its own in hoodoo to protect against evil, spiritually clean a house, and to bring good luck in love affairs.[15]

In beekeeping, lemongrass oil imitates the pheromone emitted by a honeybee's Nasonov gland to attract bees to a hive or to a swarm.

Species[]

Species included in the genus include:[3]

  • Cymbopogon ambiguus (Australian lemon-scented grass) – Australia, Timor
  • – Yunnan, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand
  • – Bhutan
  • Cymbopogon bombycinus silky oilgrass – Australia
  • – Sub-Saharan Africa, Indian Subcontinent, Yemen, Afghanistan, Madagascar, Comoros, Réunion
  • – Thailand, Kedah
  • – Thailand
  • – Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam
  • Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass or West Indian lemon grass) – Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Philippines
  • – Thailand, Myanmar, Andaman Islands
  • – Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Myanmar, Vietnam
  • Cymbopogon commutatus – Sahel, East Africa, Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan
  • – central + south-central Africa
  • – Australia
  • – Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa
  • – Gansu, Guizhou, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan, Nepal, northern Pakistan, Jammu & Kashmir
  • – Nepal, Assam
  • Cymbopogon flexuosus (East Indian lemon grass) – Indian Subcontinent, Indochina
  • – Indian Subcontinent, Myanmar, Yunnan
  • – Africa, Madagascar
  • – Maluku, New Guinea, Queensland
  • – China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan incl Ryukyu Islands, Vietnam
  • – Queensland
  • – Socotra, Turkey, Middle East, Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Indian Subcontinent, Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, Vietnam
  • – Yunnan, Guangxi, Assam, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand
  • – Sichuan
  • – Myanmar
  • – Cape Province of South Africa
  • Cymbopogon martini (palmarosa) – Indian Subcontinent, Myanmar, Vietnam
  • – China, Indochina
  • Indian Subcontinent, Myanmar, Thailand, Yunnan
  • – Nepal, Bhutan, Assam, West Bengal, Bangladesh
  • – Yunnan
  • – Sulawesi
  • Cymbopogon nardus (citronella grass) – Indian Subcontinent, Indochina, central + southern Africa, Madagascar, Seychelles
  • – Myanmar, Thailand, central Africa
  • Cymbopogon obtectus Silky-heads – Australia
  • – India, Bangladesh
  • – Yunnan, eastern Himalayas, Myanmar, Vietnam
  • – Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, Myanmar
  • – eastern + southern Africa, Oman, Yemen, Himalayas, Tibet, Yunnan
  • – Australia, New Guinea, Maluku, Lesser Sunda Islands, Sulawesi
  • – islands of Indian Ocean
  • – Queensland
  • – Vietnam
  • – Lesser Sunda Islands, Java
  • Cymbopogon refractus (barbed wire grass) – Australia incl Norfolk Island
  • Cymbopogon schoenanthus (camel hay or camel grass) – Sahara, Sahel, eastern Africa, Arabian Peninsular, Iran
  • – China incl Taiwan, Ryukyu + Bonin Is, Philippines, Vietnam, Maluku
  • – Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan
  • Cymbopogon winterianus (citronella grass) – Borneo, Java, Sumatra
  • – Sichuan
Formerly included[3]

Numerous species now regarded as better suited to other genera including Andropogon, Exotheca, Hyparrhenia, Iseilema, Schizachyrium, and Themeda.

Images[]

  • Lemongrass at a market

  • Prepared lemongrass

  • Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) essential oil in clear glass vial

  • Thai yam takhrai kung sot (ยำตะไคร้กุ้งสด), a salad (yam) made with prawns and finely sliced fresh lemongrass

  • A knot of lemongrass used to impart fragrance in dinuguan (Filipino pork blood stew)

  • Knots of lemongrass ready for use in Filipino cuisine

References[]

  1. ^ Sprengel, Curt (Kurt, Curtius) Polycarp Joachim 1815. Plantarum Minus Cognitarum Pugillus 2: 14
  2. ^ lectotype designated by N.L. Britton & P. Wilson, Bot. Porto Rico 1: 27 (1923)
  3. ^ a b c Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  4. ^ Tropicos, Cymbopogon Spreng.
  5. ^ Soenarko, S. 1977. The genus Cymbopogon Sprengel (Gramineae). Reinwardtia 9(3): 225–375
  6. ^ Flora of China Vol. 22 Page 624 香茅属 xiang mao shu Cymbopogon Sprengel, Pl. Min. Cogn. Pug. 2: 14. 1815.
  7. ^ "Atlas of Living Australia, Cymbopogon Spreng., Lemon Grass". Archived from the original on 2016-04-06. Retrieved 2015-03-21.
  8. ^ Bor, N. L. 1960. Grass. Burma, Ceylon, India & Pakistan i–767. Pergamon Press, Oxford
  9. ^ Cymbopogon caesius South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), PlantZAfrica
  10. ^ Blanco MM, Costa CA, Freire AO, Santos JG, Costa M (March 2009). "Neurobehavioral effect of essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus in mice". Phytomedicine. 16 (2–3): 265–70. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2007.04.007. PMID 17561386.
  11. ^ Leite JR, Seabra Mde L, Maluf E, et al. (July 1986). "Pharmacology of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus Stapf). III. Assessment of eventual toxic, hypnotic and anxiolytic effects on humans". J Ethnopharmacol. 17 (1): 75–83. doi:10.1016/0378-8741(86)90074-7. PMID 2429120.
  12. ^ Bleasel N, Tate B, Rademaker M (August 2002). "Allergic contact dermatitis following exposure to essential oils". Australas. J. Dermatol. 43 (3): 211–3. doi:10.1046/j.1440-0960.2002.00598.x. PMID 12121401. S2CID 46674505.
  13. ^ Ekpenyong, Christopher E.; Daniel, Nyebuk E.; Antai, Atim B. (January 2015). "Bioactive natural constituents from lemongrass tea and erythropoiesis boosting effects: potential use in prevention and treatment of anemia". Journal of Medicinal Food. 18 (1): 118–127. doi:10.1089/jmf.2013.0184. ISSN 1557-7600. PMID 25162916.
  14. ^ Greer, John Michael (2016). The New Encyclopedia of the Occult (First ed.). Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications. p. 500. ISBN 978-1-56718-336-8.
  15. ^ Yronwode, Catherine (2002). Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic: A Materia Magica of African-American Conjure. Forestville, California: Lucky Mojo Curio Company. p. 123. ISBN 978-0-9719612-0-3.

Bibliography[]

  • Akhila, Anand (2010). Essential Oil-Bearing Grasses - The genus Cymbopogon. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. ISBN 978-0-8493-7857-7.
Retrieved from ""