SafePlants

No images found for this plant ID: 13180.

Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "13180" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.

Safe for Children?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Dogs?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Cats?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Reptiles?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Cymbopogon distans

Scientific Name: Cymbopogon distans

Family: Poaceae

Category: Monocot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Cymbopogon distans: Aromatic Grass of the Himalayas

Cymbopogon distans, commonly known as Yun Xiang Cao (???) in Chinese, is a perennial aromatic grass native to the temperate Himalayan region. It is valued for its essential oils and has been introduced to subtropical regions.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Cymbopogon distans (Nees ex Steud.) Wats.
  • Family: Poaceae (Grass family)
  • Synonyms:
    • Andropogon nardus var. distans (Steud.)
    • Cymbopogon distans (Nees ex Steudel) Will. Watson
    • Cymbopogon distans (Nees) J.F. Watson

Distribution and Habitat

  • Cymbopogon distans is found in the temperate Himalayan region.
  • It thrives in xerophytic grasslands of the upper Himalayas.
  • It has also been found in Gansu, Guizhou, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Tibet, and Yunnan provinces in China.
  • The plant has been successfully introduced to subtropical India.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Habit: Perennial caespitose (growing in tufts or clumps).
  • Butt sheaths: Glabrous (smooth) or sparsely hairy.
  • Culms (stems): Erect, 45-90 cm long.
  • Ligule: An eciliate membrane (a small, thin membrane without hairs).

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • The essential oil of Cymbopogon distans has repellent properties against stored-product insects.

Traditional Uses

  • In traditional Chinese medicine, it is known as Yun Xiang Cao (???).
  • It has a warm nature and a pungent, bitter flavor.
  • One of its traditional functions is to disperse cold.

Further Information

  • Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service.
  • Catalogue of Life China, 2013 Annual Checklist (Biodiversity Committee, Chinese Academy of Sciences).
  • Kew.org grasses database: http://www.kew.org/data/grasses-db/www/imp02630.htm