Lemongrass (plant)

Lemongrass is a collective name for about 55 species of aromatic plants in the genus Citronella of the family Gramineae, also known as lemongrass, and is one of the common herbs. It is also known as lemongrass because of its lemon aroma. It is quite effective in treating rheumatism, treating migraines, fighting infections, improving digestion, deodorizing and repelling insects. It fights infections, astringes the skin, and tones greasy, impure skin. Gives a sense of freshness and restores balance to the body and mind (especially during the first stages of illness). It is the most widely used oil in aromatherapy and medical treatments. It can also be used as an indoor fragrance.

Lemongrass, proper name: Lemongrass Cymbopogon citratus [1]

Morphological features

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A densely tufted perennial fragrant herb. Culms up to 2 m tall, stout, white waxy powdered below nodes. Leaf sheaths glabrous, not revolute, inner surface light green; ligule thick, ca. 1 mm; leaf blades 30-90 cm long, 5-15 mm wide, apically long acuminate, smooth or margins scabrous.

Pseudo-panicle with multiple compound branches, ca. 50 cm long, sparsely, branches slender, apically pendulous; spathe 1.5(-2) cm long; racemes unequal, with 3-4 or 5-6 nodes, ca. 1.5 cm long; racemes glabrous; raceme rachis internodes and spikelet pedicels 2.5-4 mm long, sparsely pilose at margins, apically inflated or dentate.

Sessile spikelet linear-lanceolate, 5-6 mm long, ca. 0.7 mm wide; first glume dorsally flattened or sunken into a groove, veinless, distally narrow-winged, margins shortly ciliate; second lemma narrow, ca. 3 mm long, apex 2-picu-dentate, awnless or with an awn-tip ca. 0.2 mm long. Sessile spikelet 4.5-5 mm long. Chromosomes 2n=40 (Gupta B. K., 1965), 60 (Babu, 1936). Flowering and fruiting in summer, rarely in flower. [2]

Distilled from sun-dried grass, it tastes like a combination of fruity aroma and lavender, and is about 60 centimeters in height, mainly from Sri Lanka, Java, Madagascar, and South Africa, with Java the better quality, and has only been used commercially in large quantities in the present century

Though its source is stable, the price has more than doubled since '96.

Its odor repels mosquitoes and fleas and reduces bacteria in wards.

Lemongrass softens the skin when blended with orange blossom and bergamot.

Essential oils that are suitable for blending with are; Bergamot, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Lavender, Neroli, Peppermint, Bitter Orange Leaf, Sage, and Ylang Ylang.