Vetiver, Vetiver Root, Khus Khus
Chrysopogon zizanioides

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A tropical grass about 2 - 5 m high, Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides) is characterized by its extensive root system that tends to grow deep up to 4 m or more. Because of such characteristic, it is commonly planted to prevent soil erosion in sloping areas. It is also highly tolerant to heavy metals found in the soil. The root yields high quality, woody, and heavy-scented essential oil which is used as a flavouring in canned asparagus and peas, fruit drinks, syrup sweets, etc. It is also used in making soaps, perfumery, cosmetics, deodorants, and other toiletries. The roots are used to make baskets, fans, mats, and cooling screens. Powdered roots show insecticidal properties. Stems and old leaves, on the other hand, are used as thatch or process into a coarse paper-pulp. Other Names: Akar wangi, Botha grass, Janur, Khas-khas, Khus-khus, Kusu-kusu, Larasetu, Larawastu, Nara setu, Nara wastu, Narawastu, Ramacham, Reshira, Sugandhimula, Usar, Vetiver Root, Vetiver.

Chrysopogon zizanioides is an evergreen Perennial growing to 1.8 m (6ft) by 1.8 m (6ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid, very alkaline and saline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Height (m): 1.8

Where it is found

Floodplains and the banks of streams and rivers. Rich moist soils, often along water courses.

E. Asia - Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Found In: Africa, Asia, Australia, Burma, East Africa, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malawi, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Edible portion: Root - oil for flavouring. An essential oil obtained from the roots is used as a flavouring in sherbets, syrup sweets, fruit drinks and canned asparagus. It is used in certain canned foods, such as asparagus and peas, to reinforce the natural odour and taste.

Oil: Oil

Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Medicine

Rating: 2

The essential oil obtained from the roots is used medicinally as a carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, refrigerant, stomachic, tonic, antispasmodic and sudorific. A stimulant drink is made from fresh rhizomes The plants are used as an anthelmintic.

Anthelmintic: Expels parasites from the gut.

Antispasmodic: Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.

Carminative: Reduces flatulence and expels gas from the intestines.

Diaphoretic: Induces perspiration.

Diuretic: Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.

Emmenagogue: Promotes or increases the menstrual flow. In early stages of pregnancy it can induce an abortion.

Refrigerant: Cools the body.

Stimulant: Excites or quickens activity of the physiological processes. Faster acting than a tonic but differing from a narcotic in that it does not give a false sense of well-being.

Stomachic: Aids and improves the action of the stomach.

Tonic: Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.

Other

Rating: 4

Other uses rating: High (4/5). Agroforestry Uses: Unlike most grasses, which tend to have a more or less surface-rooting habit, the very dense root system of Vetiver has a strong tendency to grow downwards for 4 metres or more. This effectively anchors strips of plants and the soil behind them. Traditionally, the plant is grown in southern India in strips as permanent field boundaries and occasionally in contour strips to control erosion, while in Java it is planted to protect sloping drains. Its use as an erosion-control plant has spread throughout the tropics, but for a long time remained restricted to small areas. Recent interest started in Fiji, where it was grown in contour strips in sugar-cane plantations on steep slopes. Since the late 1980s, its planting for erosion control has been promoted strongly, not only around fields, but also to protect terraces and road shoulders. Strips of densely packed, stiff and tough grass stems break the speed of run-off water and divide it evenly, reducing the risk of formation of run-off streams and gully erosion. The plant is highly tolerant of heavy metals in the soil, including silver, cadmium, manganese and aluminium. In addition, it can grow in land where fuel has been spilt. Over a period of time it gradually accumulates these toxins which can then be removed by cutting the grass and the metals can be reclaimed. Other Uses A high-quality essential oil, known as 'vetiver oil' is obtained from the root. Its scent is heavy and woody. It has a wide range of applications, being used is used in perfumery, cosmetics, deodorants, soaps and other toilet articles. In perfumery, the essential oil and vetiveryl acetate, synthesized by acetylation of vetiver oil, are important fixatives for more volatile fragrance materials. The chemical stability of vetiver oil under alkaline conditions makes it a suitable scent compound for soaps. The essential oil, and the roots, have insecticidal and insect-repellent properties about which little is known. The roots are used for making baskets, mats, fans or 'pamaypay' in the Philippines and cooling screens named 'tatties' in India. These give a pleasant smell to a room, especially when dampened. The dried roots, or sachets of powdered roots, are stored between clothes to give them a pleasant smell and to repel insects. The stems and old leaves are an excellent, long lasting thatch and can be processed into a coarse paper-pulp. Absorbs dissolved heavy metals from polluted water, tolerates As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Hg, Se and Zn.

Basketry: Plant used in making baskets and other items such as chairs. Includes plants that are only used as an ornamental addition.

Biomass: Provides a large quantity of plant material that can be converted into fuel etc.

Cosmetic: Used to improve the physical appearence of a person.

Essential: Essential oils that are used in perfumery, medicines, paint solvents, insect repellents etc.

Hedge: Plants that can be grown as hedges.

Insecticide: Kills insects.

Oil: Vegetable oils have many uses, as lubricants, lighting, soap and paint making, waterproofing etc. This does not include the edible oils unless they are also mentioned as having other uses.

Paper: Related to the entry for Fibre, these plants have been specifically mentioned for paper making.

Soap making: Plants used as an ingredient in making soaps. Does not include the essential oils, dyes and oils that are also used in making soap.

Soil reclamation: Plants that can be grown in such circumstances an the spoil tips of mines in order to restore fertility.

Soil stabilization: Plants that can be grown in places such as sand dunes in order to prevent erosion by wind, water or other agents.

Straw: For drinking with.

Agroforestry Services: Contour hedgerow: Alley cropping systems on the contour of slopes.

Industrial Crop: Biomass: Three broad categories: bamboos, resprouting woody plants, and giant grasses. uses include: protein, materials (paper, building materials, fibers, biochar etc.), chemicals (biobased chemicals), energy - biofuels

Management: Hay: Cut to the ground and harvested annually. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Minor Global Crop: These crops are already grown or traded around the world, but on a smaller scale than the global perennial staple and industrial crops, The annual value of a minor global crop is under $1 billion US. Examples include shea, carob, Brazil nuts and fibers such as ramie and sisal.

Agroforestry Services: Contour hedgerow: Alley cropping systems on the contour of slopes.

Industrial Crop: Biomass: Three broad categories: bamboos, resprouting woody plants, and giant grasses. uses include: protein, materials (paper, building materials, fibers, biochar etc.), chemicals (biobased chemicals), energy - biofuels

Management: Hay: Cut to the ground and harvested annually. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Minor Global Crop: These crops are already grown or traded around the world, but on a smaller scale than the global perennial staple and industrial crops, The annual value of a minor global crop is under $1 billion US. Examples include shea, carob, Brazil nuts and fibers such as ramie and sisal.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

Hedge: Hedge

How it is grown

A plant of the tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 2,500 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 35°c, but can tolerate 12 - 45°c. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -15°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at 0°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 500 - 2,500mm, but tolerates 200 - 5,000mm. Prefers a moisture-retentive soil in full sun. Succeeds in a very wide range of soils, tolerating occasional waterlogging once established. Plants are very tolerant of saline soils. Prefers a Ph in the range 4.5 - 8, tolerating 3 - 9.9. A yield of 1 - 5 tonnes of dried roots per hectare can be harvested annually, at an oil content of 0.7 - 2.5%, this produces 40 - 100 kilos of essential oil. Tolerant to drought because of its deep roots, flood, and submergence.

Propagating it: Seed, Division.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 7-11

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist, wet

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides). Other Names: Akar wangi, Botha grass, Janur, Khas-khas, Khus-khus, Kusu-kusu, Larasetu, Larawastu, Nara setu, Nara wastu, Narawastu, Ramacham, Reshira, Sugandhimula, Usar, Vetiver Root, Vetiver.

Synonyms

Agrostis verticillata Lam. Agrostis verticillata Vill. Anatherum muricatum (Retz.) P.Beauv. Anatheru