Description

A tufted perennial grass with culms 2–2½ m high; known only in cultivation; originally in Ceylon, and now widely distributed in the tropics, especially the Indo-Malesian region, and present too in W Africa. It was at one time considered a variety of C. nardus, but is now accorded specific rank.It is grown in the Region as an ornamental, and for its oil (3). It, together with C. nardus, supplies the world with citronella oil. Both are exploited in Ceylon, and C. winterianus in Java and Taiwan. It is the less hardy, requiring more rain and more careful husbandry but gives a higher yield of better quality. The haulm is cut above the first node, then dried and subjected to steam distillation. Oil from Java contains 85% ‘total alcohols’ calculated as geraniol, including 35% or more of citronellal which is a valuable starting point for making various perfumery chemicals (1, 2, 4, 5).

Description

A tufted perennial grass with culms 2–2½ m high; known only in cultivation; originally in Ceylon, and now widely distributed in the tropics, especially the Indo-Malesian region, and present too in W Africa. It was at one time considered a variety of C. nardus, but is now accorded specific rank.It is grown in the Region as an ornamental, and for its oil (3). It, together with C. nardus, supplies the world with citronella oil. Both are exploited in Ceylon, and C. winterianus in Java and Taiwan. It is the less hardy, requiring more rain and more careful husbandry but gives a higher yield of better quality. The haulm is cut above the first node, then dried and subjected to steam distillation. Oil from Java contains 85% ‘total alcohols’ calculated as geraniol, including 35% or more of citronellal which is a valuable starting point for making various perfumery chemicals (1, 2, 4, 5).