Rosha grass, Geranium grass, Palmarosa
Cymbopogon martinii

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A grass. It forms in tufts and keeps growing from year to year. It has a woody rootstock. It grows 3 m high. The lower nodes are swollen. The leaf blades are narrow and 50 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. They taper to the tip. The flower panicles are 10-30 cm long and reddish.

The variety "Sofia" is a tetraploid plant while "Motia" is a diploid plant.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows on grassy slopes in Sichuan and Yunnan in China. It can grow in poor soil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Brazil, China, East Africa, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, SE Asia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves yield an essential oil by steam distillation and it is used to flavour ice cream, gelatin desserts, chewing gum and bakery products. The leaves are used for tea.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Leaves - oil, leaves - tea

How it is grown

It can be grown from seed sown directly. The seeds are small so are mixed with ash or sand. They can be grown from seed or from slips put in a nursery and transplanted. A spacing of 15-20 cm is suitable. Leaves are cut when 15-20 cm tall.

Its other names

Local names

Ginger grass, Myet-kyet-thun, Palmarosa, Pamarosa, Rauns, Rohisa, Rosagram, Rusa grass, Sabalin, Thisankah

Synonyms

Andropogon martinii Roxb.; Andropogon pachnodes Trin.; Andropogon schoenanthus var. genuinus Hack.; Andropogon schoenanthus var. martinii (Roxb.) Hook. f.; Cymbopogon martinianus Schult.; Cymbopogon martinii var. sofia Gupta; Cymbopogon motia Gupta; Cymbopogon pachnodes (Trin.) Wats.;