Cymbopogon citratus* (DC) Stapf. Kew.Bull.Misc.Inf. 322 (1906).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Panicoideae. Andropogoneae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Andropogon
citratus DC. Cat. Pl. Horti Monsp. 78 (1813).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: T: Cult. at Montpellier, France, from seed
collected in Asia.
Key references
(books and floras): [1969] E.E.Henty, Manual Grasses New Guinea
(56), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia.
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, short. Culms 100–200 cm tall. Ligule an eciliate
membrane, 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 45–90 cm long, 5–20 mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, composed of rames. Central inflorescence axis 30–40 cm
long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile, 1 in the cluster. Companion spikelets pedicelled, 1 in the
cluster. Basal sterile spikelets well-developed, 2 in number (lower raceme).
Companion spikelets developed, comprising 2 subequal glumes without lemmas or
male, 4–6 mm long. Companion spikelet glumes muticous. Fertile spikelets
2-flowered, the lower floret barren (rarely male), the upper fertile,
comprising 1 basal sterile florets, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without
rachilla extension, linear or lanceolate, dorsally compressed, 5–6 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, keeled,
2-keeled, wingless or winged on keel, winged broadly, 3–4 -nerved. Upper glume
lanceolate, keeled, 1-keeled, 3 -nerved. Florets. Basal sterile florets
1, barren, without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret hyaline.
Fertile lemma without
keel. Lemma apex entire or dentate, muticous or mucronate, 1 -awned. Palea
absent. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia, Pacific,
North America, and South America.
Australian
Distribution: Northern Territory. Queensland
Northern Territory:
Darwin & Gulf.
Queensland: Wide Bay
Notes.
Cultivated as a culinery herb and for lemon grass oil; recorded once as
naturalised in Qld (sterile), but no longer persisting. Flowers Aug in
cultivation.
