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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Lemon Grass''
| image =YosriNov04Pokok Serai.JPG
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Lemon grass plant
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Poales]]
| familia = [[Poaceae]]
| genus = '''''Cymbopogon'''''
| genus_authority = [[Kurt Sprengel|Spreng.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
About 55, see text
}}
'''''Cymbopogon''''' is a genus of about 55 species of [[Poaceae|grasses]], native to warm temperate and tropical regions of the [[Old World]] and [[Oceania]]. It is a tall [[perennial plant|perennial]] grass. Common names include '''lemon grass''', '''lemongrass''', '''barbed wire grass''', '''silky heads''', '''citronella grass''' or '''fever grass''' amongst many others.
===Cultivation and uses===
[[Image:Prepared lemon grass.JPG|thumb|262px|Prepared Lemongrass|left]]
Lemon grass is widely used as a [[herb]] in Asian (particularly [[Vietnamese cuisine|Vietnamese]], Hmong, [[Khmer cuisine|Khmer]], [[Thai cuisine|Thai]], [[Lao cuisine|Lao]], [[Indonesian cuisine|Indonesian]], [[Philippine cuisine|Philippine]], [[Cuisine of Sri Lanka|Sri Lankan]]) and [[Caribbean cuisine|Caribbean]] cooking. It has a [[citrus]] flavour and can be dried and powdered, or used fresh. The stalk itself is too hard to be eaten, except for the soft inner part. However, it can be finely sliced and added to recipes. It may also be bruised and added whole as this releases the aromatic oils from the juice sacs in the stalk. The main constituent of lemongrass oil is [[citral]], which makes up around 80% of the total.<ref name="Simonsen">{{cite book | last = Simonsen | first = J. L. | title = The Terpenes, Vol. I | publisher = [[Cambridge University Press]] | date = Second Ed., 1953 | pages = 83-100 }}</ref>
Lemon grass is commonly used in [[tea]]s, [[soup]]s, and [[curry|curries]]. It is also suitable for poultry, fish, and seafood. It is often used as a tea in African countries (e.g. [[Togo]]).
[[Cymbopogon flexuosus|East-Indian Lemon Grass]] (''Cymbopogon flexuosus''), also called Cochin Grass or Malabar Grass, is native to [[Cambodia]], [[India]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[Burma]],and [[Thailand]] while the [[West-Indian lemon grass]] (''Cymbopogon citratus'') is assumed to have its origins in [[Malaysia]]. While both can be used interchangeably, ''C. citratus'' is more suited for cooking. In [[India]] ''C. citratus'' is used both as a medical herb and in perfumes.
Research also shows that lemon grass oil has antifungal properties.<ref>Shadab, Q., Hanif, M. & Chaudhary, F.M. (1992) ''Antifungal activity by lemongrass essential oils.'' Pak. J. Sci. Ind. Res. 35, 246-249.</ref>[[Image:Serai.jpg|thumb|left|Lemon grass at a market]]
'''Citronella Grass''' (''[[Cymbopogon nardus]]'' and ''Cymbopogon winterianus'') is similar to the species above but grows to 2 m and has red base stems. These species are used for the production of [[citronella oil]], which is used in soaps, as a mosquito repellent in insect sprays and candles, and also in aromatherapy, which is famous in Bintan, Indonesia. 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, in tea and as a flavoring.
'''Palmarosa''' also called Rosha Grass and Indian Geranium (''Cymbopogon martinii'') is another species used in the perfume industry. It is a [[perennial plant|perennial]] clumping grass which grows to 150 cm with finer leaves and has a smaller bulbous base than the species above. The leaves and flower tops contain a sweet smelling oil which is used for the production of [[geraniol]]. It is also distilled into palmarosa oil and used in aromatherapy for its calming effect to help relieve nervous tension and stress.
Lemongrass in some cases has been used as a mild depressant for the central nervous system. It is also sometimes used as a [[weed barrier]].
One particular alpine grassland variant known as ''juzai'' is a staple of [[Kyrgyz]], [[Dungan]] and [[Uyghur people|Uyghur]] cooking.
===Partial species list===
[[Image:Recipes_Using_Lemongrass_dt_2007.jpg|thumb|336px|right]]
*''[[Cymbopogon ambiguus]]'' Australian lemon-scented grass (native of Australia)
*''[[Cymbopogon bombycinus]]'' Silky Oilgrass (native of Australia)
*''[[Cymbopogon citratus]]'' Lemon Grass
*''[[Cymbopogon citriodora]]'' West Indian lemon grass
*''[[Cymbopogon flexuosus]]'' East Indian lemon grass
*''[[Cymbopogon martinii]]'' Palmarosa
*''[[Cymbopogon nardus]]'' Citronella Grass
*''[[Cymbopogon obtectus]]'' Silky-heads (native of Australia)
*''[[Cymbopogon procerus]]'' (native of Australia)
*''[[Cymbopogon proximus]]'' found in Egypt
*''[[Cymbopogon refractus]]'' Barbed wire grass (native of Australia)
*''[[Cymbopogon winterianus]]'' Citronella Grass
==References==
{{reflist}}
==See also==
* [[Insect repellent]]
* [[Beautyberry]]
* [[DEET]]
* [[Citronella oil]]
{{Herbs & spices}}
[[Category:Herbs]]
[[Category:Grasses]]
[[Category:Spices]]
[[Category:Flora of Australia]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Lemon Grass''
| image =YosriNov04Pokok Serai.JPG
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Lemon grass plant
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Poales]]
| familia = [[Poaceae]]
| genus = '''''Cymbopogon'''''
| genus_authority = [[Kurt Sprengel|Spreng.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
About 55, see text
}}
'''''Cymbopogon''''' is a genus of about 55 species of [[Poaceae|grasses]], native to warm temperate and tropical regions of the [[Old World]] and [[Oceania]]. It is a tall [[perennial plant|perennial]] grass. Common names include '''lemon grass''', '''lemongrass''', '''barbed wire grass''', '''silky heads''', '''citronella grass''' or '''fever grass''' amongst many others.
===Cultivation and uses===
[[Image:Prepared lemon grass.JPG|thumb|262px|Prepared Lemongrass|left]]
Lemon grass is widely used as a [[herb]] in Asian (particularly [[Vietnamese cuisine|Vietnamese]], Hmong, [[Khmer cuisine|Khmer]], [[Thai cuisine|Thai]], [[Lao cuisine|Lao]], [[Indonesian cuisine|Indonesian]], [[Philippine cuisine|Philippine]], [[Cuisine of Sri Lanka|Sri Lankan]]) and [[Caribbean cuisine|Caribbean]] cooking. It has a [[citrus]] flavour and can be dried and powdered, or used fresh. The stalk itself is too hard to be eaten, except for the soft inner part. However, it can be finely sliced and added to recipes. It may also be bruised and added whole as this releases the aromatic oils from the juice sacs in the stalk. The main constituent of lemongrass oil is [[citral]], which makes up around 80% of the total.<ref name="Simonsen">{{cite book | last = Simonsen | first = J. L. | title = The Terpenes, Vol. I | publisher = [[Cambridge University Press]] | date = Second Ed., 1953 | pages = 83-100 }}</ref>
Lemon grass is commonly used in [[tea]]s, [[soup]]s, and [[curry|curries]]. It is also suitable for poultry, fish, and seafood. It is often used as a tea in African countries (e.g. [[Togo]]).
[[Cymbopogon flexuosus|East-Indian Lemon Grass]] (''Cymbopogon flexuosus''), also called Cochin Grass or Malabar Grass, is native to [[Cambodia]], [[India]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[Burma]],and [[Thailand]] while the [[West-Indian lemon grass]] (''Cymbopogon citratus'') is assumed to have its origins in [[Malaysia]]. While both can be used interchangeably, ''C. citratus'' is more suited for cooking. In [[India]] ''C. citratus'' is used both as a medical herb and in perfumes.
Research also shows that lemon grass oil has antifungal properties.<ref>Shadab, Q., Hanif, M. & Chaudhary, F.M. (1992) ''Antifungal activity by lemongrass essential oils.'' Pak. J. Sci. Ind. Res. 35, 246-249.</ref>[[Image:Serai.jpg|thumb|left|Lemon grass at a market]]
'''Citronella Grass''' (''[[Cymbopogon nardus]]'' and ''Cymbopogon winterianus'') is similar to the species above but grows to 2 m and has red base stems. These species are used for the production of [[citronella oil]], which is used in soaps, as a mosquito repellent in insect sprays and candles, and also in aromatherapy, which is famous in Bintan, Indonesia. 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, in tea and as a flavoring.
'''Palmarosa''' also called Rosha Grass and Indian Geranium (''Cymbopogon martinii'') is another species used in the perfume industry. It is a [[perennial plant|perennial]] clumping grass which grows to 150 cm with finer leaves and has a smaller bulbous base than the species above. The leaves and flower tops contain a sweet smelling oil which is used for the production of [[geraniol]]. It is also distilled into palmarosa oil and used in aromatherapy for its calming effect to help relieve nervous tension and stress.
Lemongrass in some cases has been used as a mild depressant for the central nervous system. It is also sometimes used as a [[weed barrier]].
One particular alpine grassland variant known as ''juzai'' is a staple of [[Kyrgyz]], [[Dungan]] and [[Uyghur people|Uyghur]] cooking.
===Partial species list===
[[Image:Recipes_Using_Lemongrass_dt_2007.jpg|thumb|336px|right]]
*''[[Cymbopogon ambiguus]]'' Australian lemon-scented grass (native of Australia)
*''[[Cymbopogon bombycinus]]'' Silky Oilgrass (native of Australia)
*''[[Cymbopogon citratus]]'' Lemon Grass
*''[[Cymbopogon citriodora]]'' West Indian lemon grass
*''[[Cymbopogon flexuosus]]'' East Indian lemon grass
*''[[Cymbopogon martinii]]'' Palmarosa
*''[[Cymbopogon nardus]]'' Citronella Grass
*''[[Cymbopogon obtectus]]'' Silky-heads (native of Australia)
*''[[Cymbopogon procerus]]'' (native of Australia)
*''[[Cymbopogon proximus]]'' found in Egypt
*''[[Cymbopogon refractus]]'' Barbed wire grass (native of Australia)
*''[[Cymbopogon winterianus]]'' Citronella Grass
==References==
{{reflist}}
==See also==
* [[Insect repellent]]
* [[Beautyberry]]
* [[DEET]]
* [[Citronella oil]]
{{Herbs & spices}}
[[Category:Herbs]]
[[Category:Grasses]]
[[Category:Spices]]
[[Category:Flora of Australia]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]