LEMON GRASS (Cymbopogon spp)

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon) is a perennial, tufted, aromatic C4 herb belonging to the grass family Poaceae.

It is an aromatic plant that grows in tropical and subtropical areas at an elevation up to 900 m, particularly in South and South-East Asia and Africa where it is planted in home gardens and has been used as an important aromatic and medicinal plant since ancient times.

It is now grown worldwide.

In the tropics, it is mainly cultivated at lower altitudes.

The ideal climate for lemongrass cultivation is warm, humid with plenty of sunshine and 250-330 cm rainfall per annum, evenly distributed over most of the year.

Lemongrass was intentionally introduced in tropical and subtropical regions of the world for the essential oil extracts from its leaves and to be used as a culinary and medicinal herb.

It is a tall grass with rhizomes and densely tufted fibrous roots, which tillers profusely and has the potential to escape from cultivation.

However once established it can spread fairly rapidly, becoming weedy and invasive in disturbed areas.