View source for Cymbopogon/en

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{{Short description|Genus of grasses}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Automatic taxobox
|name = Lemongrass
|image = YosriNov04Pokok Serai.JPG
|image_caption = ''[[Cymbopogon citratus]]''
|display_parents = 4
|taxon = Cymbopogon
|authority = [[Kurt Sprengel|Spreng.]]
|type_species = ''[[Cymbopogon schoenanthus]]'' 
|type_species_authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]) [[Kurt Sprengel|Spreng.]]
|synonyms_ref = 
|synonyms =
* ''Andropogon'' sect. ''Cymbopogon'' <small>(Spreng.) Steud.</small>
* ''Andropogon'' subg. ''Cymbopogon'' <small>(Spreng.) Nees</small>
* ''Gymnanthelia'' <small>Andersson</small> 
}}

'''''Cymbopogon''''', also known as '''lemongrass''', '''barbed wire grass''', '''silky heads''', '''oily heads''', '''Cochin grass''', '''Malabar grass''', '''citronella grass''' or '''fever grass''', is a genus of [[Asia]]n, [[Africa]]n, [[Australia]]n, and tropical island plants in the [[Poaceae|grass family]].
Some species (particularly ''[[Cymbopogon citratus]]'') are commonly cultivated as culinary and medicinal herbs because of their scent, resembling that of [[lemon]]s (''Citrus limon'').
The name ''Cymbopogon'' derives from the Greek words {{lang|grc-Latn|kymbe}} ({{lang|grc|κύμβη}}, 'boat') and {{lang|grc-Latn|pogon}} ({{lang|grc|πώγων}}, 'beard') "which mean [that] in most species, the hairy spikelets project from boat-shaped spathes." Lemongrass and its oil are believed to possess therapeutic properties.

== Uses ==
Citronella grass (''[[Cymbopogon nardus]]'' and ''[[Cymbopogon winterianus]]'') grow to about {{convert|2|m|ft|frac=2}} 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 aromatherapy. The principal chemical constituents of citronella, [[geraniol]] and [[citronellol]], are [[antiseptic]]s, hence their use in household disinfectants and soaps. Besides oil production, citronella grass is also used for culinary purposes as a flavoring.

=== Culinary ===
[[File:Cymbopogon citratus leaves.jpg|thumb|left|''C. citratus'' from the [[Philippines]], where it is locally known as ''tanglad'']]
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.

=== Folk medicine ===
In India, ''C. citratus'' is used as a medical herb and in perfumes. ''C. citratus'' is consumed as a tea for anxiety in Brazilian folk medicine, but a study in humans found no effect. The tea caused a recurrence of [[contact dermatitis]] in one case. [[Samoa]]ns and [[Tonga]]ns use mashed ''C. citratus'' (called ''moegalo'' and ''moengālō'' respectively) leaves as a traditional remedy for oral infections.

=== FDA classification ===

Lemongrass essential oil has been declared [[generally recognized as safe]] in food by the United States [[Food and Drug Administration]].

==== Folk magic ====
In [[Hoodoo (folk magic)|Hoodoo]], lemongrass is the primary ingredient of [[van van oil]], one of the most popular oils used in conjure. 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.

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

==Species==
Species in the genus currently number 52 and include:
{{Div col}}
* ''[[Cymbopogon ambiguus]]'' (Australian lemon-scented grass) – Australia, Timor
* ''[[Cymbopogon annamensis]]'' – Yunnan, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand
* ''[[Cymbopogon bhutanicus]]'' – Bhutan
* ''[[Cymbopogon bombycinus]]'' silky oilgrass – Australia
* ''[[Cymbopogon caesius]]'' – Sub-Saharan Africa, Indian Subcontinent, Yemen, Afghanistan, Madagascar, [[Comoros]], [[Réunion]]
* ''[[Cymbopogon calcicola]]'' – Thailand, [[Kedah]]
* ''[[Cymbopogon calciphilus]]'' – Thailand
* ''[[Cymbopogon cambogiensis]]'' – Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam
* ''[[Cymbopogon citratus]]'' (lemon grass or West Indian lemon grass) – Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Philippines
* ''[[Cymbopogon clandestinus]]'' – Thailand, Myanmar, [[Andaman Islands]]
* ''[[Cymbopogon coloratus]]'' – [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Tamil Nadu]], Myanmar, Vietnam
* ''[[Cymbopogon commutatus]]'' – [[Sahel]], East Africa, Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan
* ''[[Cymbopogon densiflorus]]'' – central + south-central Africa
* ''[[Cymbopogon dependens]]'' – Australia
* ''[[Cymbopogon dieterlenii]]'' – [[Lesotho]], Namibia, South Africa
* ''[[Cymbopogon distans]]'' – [[Gansu]], [[Guizhou]], [[Shaanxi]], [[Sichuan]], Tibet, Yunnan, Nepal, northern Pakistan, Jammu & Kashmir
* ''[[Cymbopogon exsertus]]'' – Nepal, Assam
* ''[[Cymbopogon flexuosus]]'' (East Indian lemon grass) – Indian Subcontinent, Indochina
* ''[[Cymbopogon gidarba]]'' – Indian Subcontinent, Myanmar, Yunnan
* ''[[Cymbopogon giganteus]]'' – Africa, Madagascar
* ''[[Cymbopogon globosus]]'' – [[Maluku (province)|Maluku]], New Guinea, Queensland
* ''[[Cymbopogon goeringii]]'' – China, Korea, Japan incl Ryukyu Islands, Vietnam
* ''[[Cymbopogon gratus]]'' – Queensland
* ''[[Cymbopogon jwarancusa]]'' – [[Socotra]], Turkey, Middle East, Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Indian Subcontinent, Tibet, [[Sichuan]], [[Yunnan]], Vietnam
* ''[[Cymbopogon khasianus]]'' – Yunnan, Guangxi, Assam, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand
* ''[[Cymbopogon liangshanensis]]'' – Sichuan
* ''[[Cymbopogon mandalaiaensis]]'' – Myanmar
* ''[[Cymbopogon marginatus]]'' – [[Cape Province]] of South Africa
* ''[[Cymbopogon martinii|Cymbopogon martini]]'' (palmarosa) – Indian Subcontinent, Myanmar, Vietnam
* ''[[Cymbopogon mekongensis]]'' – China, Indochina
* ''[[Cymbopogon microstachys]]'' Indian Subcontinent, Myanmar, Thailand, Yunnan
* ''[[Cymbopogon microthecus]]'' – Nepal, Bhutan, Assam, West Bengal, Bangladesh
* ''[[Cymbopogon minor]]'' – Yunnan
* ''[[Cymbopogon minutiflorus]]'' – Sulawesi
* ''[[Cymbopogon nardus]]'' (citronella grass) – Indian Subcontinent, Indochina, central + southern Africa, Madagascar, [[Seychelles]]
* ''[[Cymbopogon nervatus]]'' – Myanmar, Thailand, central Africa
* ''[[Cymbopogon obtectus]]'' Silky-heads – Australia
* ''[[Cymbopogon osmastonii]]'' – India, Bangladesh
* ''[[Cymbopogon pendulus]]'' – Yunnan, eastern Himalayas, Myanmar, Vietnam
* ''[[Cymbopogon polyneuros]]'' – Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, Myanmar
* ''[[Cymbopogon pospischilii]]'' – eastern + southern Africa, Oman, Yemen, Himalayas, Tibet, Yunnan
* ''[[Cymbopogon procerus]]'' – Australia, New Guinea, [[Maluku (province)|Maluku]], [[Lesser Sunda Islands]], Sulawesi
* ''[[Cymbopogon pruinosus]]'' – islands of Indian Ocean
* ''[[Cymbopogon queenslandicus]]'' – Queensland
* ''[[Cymbopogon quinhonensis]]'' – Vietnam
* ''[[Cymbopogon rectus]]'' – 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
* ''[[Cymbopogon tortilis]]'' – China incl Taiwan, [[Ryukyu Islands|Ryukyu]] + [[Bonin Islands|Bonin Is]], Philippines, Vietnam, [[Maluku (province)|Maluku]]
* ''[[Cymbopogon tungmaiensis]]'' – Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan
* ''[[Cymbopogon winterianus]]'' (Java citronella, citronella grass) – Borneo, Java, Sumatra
* ''[[Cymbopogon xichangensis]]'' – Sichuan
{{Div col end}}

;Formerly included
Numerous species are now regarded as better suited to other genera, including ''[[Andropogon]]'', ''[[Exotheca]]'', ''[[Hyparrhenia]]'', ''[[Iseilema]]'', ''[[Schizachyrium]]'', and ''[[Themeda]]''.

==Images==
<gallery perrow="6" style="padding:0px;border:0px;">
File:Serai.jpg|Lemongrass at a market
File:Prepared lemon grass.JPG|Prepared lemongrass
File:LemongrassEssOil.png|Lemongrass (''Cymbopogon flexuosus'') essential oil in clear glass vial
File:Yam thale.jpg|[[Thai cuisine|Thai]] {{Lang|th-latn|yam takhrai kung sot}} ({{Lang|th|ยำตะไคร้กุ้งสด}}), a salad ([[Thai salads|''yam'']]) made with prawns and finely sliced fresh lemongrass
File:Dinuguan made with choice pork cuts and spiced with lemongrass.jpg|A knot of lemongrass used to impart fragrance in ''[[dinuguan]]'' ([[Cuisine of the Philippines|Filipino]] [[pork blood]] stew) 
File:LEMON GRASS (8313631600).jpg|Knots of lemongrass ready for use in [[Filipino cuisine]]
</gallery>


==External links==
{{Cookbook|Lemongrass}}
* {{Commons category-inline|Cymbopogon}}

{{Herbs & spices}}

[[Category:Cymbopogon| ]]
[[Category:Grasses of Africa]]
[[Category:Grasses of Asia]]
[[Category:Poaceae genera]]
[[Category:Poales of Australia]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
[[Category:Andropogoneae]]
{{二次利用|date=27 June 2025, at 08:47}}