Giant turpentine grass
Cymbopogon giganteus

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A grass. It forms loose tufts. It has underground stems or rhizomes. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 3 m high. The leaves have a lemon like smell when crushed.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in sandy coastal regions. It can grow in some shade but is best in full sun. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sahel, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The seeds are put into sauces. The leaves are probably used to add a lemon flavour.

Edible parts

Seeds, cereal, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chisugumbi, Gbezin, Oflin, Timammuti, Tsauri grass, Wangono

Synonyms

Andropogon connatus (A. Rich.) Chiov. var. benearmatus Chiov.; Andropogon giganteus Hochst.;