Cymbopogon Nardus Eendle (Andropogon Nardus L.), citronella
grass. In this grass also various botanists suspected the Nardus Indica
of the Ancients, and for this reason Linnaeus gave it the name Andro-
pogon Nardus. Grimm, a physician who lived at the end of the seven-
teenth century in Colombo, called the grass Arundo Indica odorata.
He stated that it grows in large quantities in the neighbourhood of
Colombo (probably cultivated), and that an essential oil is distilled
from it.
Citronella grass is only found cultivated; it is grown particularly in
the southern part of Ceylon, and also in the Malacca peninsula and
Java; in most recent times attempts have also been made to cultivate it
in the West Indies. The mother-plant is very probably the wild mana
grass, Cymbopogon confertiflorus Stapf, found in Ceylon.
It is well known that citronella grass is cultivated in two varieties:
" Maha pengiri" (Maha pangiri), and "Lenabatu" (Lana batu). The
first-named is also called " old citronella grass " or " Winter's grass,"
as it was only cultivated by Winter & Son, whilst it is chiefly grown
in the Malacca peninsula and in Java. It has fairly broad leaves, larger
tufts than " Lenabatu," and is characterised by a rapid growth, but it is
soon exhausted and dies after ten to fifteen years. As for this reason it
frequently has to be planted out afresh, it has gradually been replaced
by the Lenabatu variety. It yields an oil of lower specific gravity, readily
soluble, and rich in acetylisable constituents.
The variety known as " Lenabatu " (" new citronella grass "), which
forms the bulk of Ceylon citronella grass, yields an oil of less value,
which differs from the other by a higher specific gravity, lower geraniol-
content, and contains methyl eugenol.
Morphological differences between the two varieties do not exist, as
Stapf proved with two specimens which, however, were not very well
preserved.
Cymbopogon confertiflorus Stapf (Andropogon confertiflorus Steud.).
This grass is found in India in the district between the Nilghiris and
Ceylon, and also in Ceylon itself. It grows to a height of 5 ft. and,
more. It is possibly the wild mother-plant of citronella grass, and it
has also the same odour as the latter, but it only gives a small yield of
oil. The Singhalese name for it is " Mana," whilst in the Nilghiris it
is known as " Bambe ".
Cymbopogon flexuosus Stapf (Andropogon flexuosus Nees ex Steud.),
Malabar or Cochin grass, is distributed in the Tinnivelli district and in
Travancore. During the last few years large areas have been planted
there with this grass. According to Stapf, the oil, which is known in
commerce as lemon-grass oil, is obtained from two wholly different plants,
the oil coming from the Malabar coast being produced from C. flexuosus
Stapf, whilst the other species of lemon-grass, designated as C. citratus
Stapf, yields an oil which, though very similar, is not identical with the
former.
Cymbopogon coloratus Stapf (Andropogon coloratus Nees) is found
from the Tinnivelli district to the Anamalai mountains, and also in the
district Karnatik (Madras Presidency), and belongs to the lemon-grasses
of the Malabar district. It differs from C. flexuosus in that it is much
smaller.
Cymbopogon citratus Stapf (Andropogon citratus D. C.) only
occurs in the cultivated state. It is found in most tropical countries,
