About Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle
Cymbopogon nardus, commonly called citronella grass, is a species of perennial aromatic plant in the grass family Poaceae that originated in tropical Asia. It is unpalatable and cannot be eaten, and it is an invasive species that makes pastureland useless—cattle will starve even when citronella grass grows abundantly there. This plant is the source of citronella oil, an essential oil widely used for its natural insect-repelling effects. The essential oil is extracted from the plant's aerial parts, and is either applied topically or burned slowly (such as in a "citronella candle") to repel insects, especially blood-feeding insects like mosquitoes.
