Tsauri grass
Cymbopogon caesius subsp. giganteus

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A grass. It forms loose tufts. It grows 2.5 m high. A grass. 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 grassland and savannah between 50-1,550 m above sea level. 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, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sahel, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are used for flavouring and in sauces.

Edible parts

Leaves - flavouring

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Calim, Kumbetu-de-fula, Ompa

Synonyms

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