Cochin lemongrass

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Cochin lemongrass
• East Indian lemongrass
• Malabar grass
• Malabar lemongrass
• Cochin grass

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Andropogon nardus subsp. flexuosus
• Cymbopogon flexuosus var. arunachalis
• Andropogon flexuosus
• Cymbopogon flexuosus var. assamensis
• Andropogon ampliflorus
• Cymbopogon flexuosus var. sikkimensis
• Cymbopogon flexuosus var. coimbatorensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Poales, it is a member of the family Poaceae. Specifically, it is categorized under the genus Cymbopogon.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several distinct regions of the world. In Northern Africa, it can be found specifically within the borders of Egypt. Its presence is also highly notable throughout the Western Indian Ocean, including Mauritius, Madagascar, and the Seychelles. Additionally, the species extends its reach into Asia, specifically within South-Central China. These diverse locations highlight the wide ecological range of Cymbopogon flexuosus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cymbopogon flexuosus is characterized by a specific altitudinal distribution that dictates its habitat preferences and environmental interactions. This species thrives across a broad vertical gradient, occupying diverse ecological niches ranging from lower foothills to higher montane regions. Its elevational range begins at a minimum of 300 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 1600 m AMSL, with a mean elevational presence centered around 1000 m AMSL. This distribution suggests that the plant is well-adapted to varying atmospheric pressures, temperature fluctuations, and moisture regimes associated with different mountain altitudes, allowing it to persist in a variety of terrain types within its ecological zone.

Elevational range max:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

300 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Cymbopogon flexuosus is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle within a single year. In terms of its growth habit and survival strategy, the plant is classified as a hemicryptophyte, meaning its perennuating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, typically protected by leaf litter or surface debris during unfavorable environmental conditions. This life form, consistent with its categorization as a hemicryptophyte under multiple morphological assessments, enables the species to effectively navigate seasonal transitions and maintain long-term stability within its ecological niche.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cymbopogon flexuosus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody, graminoid herb. This plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat and functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic tendencies. It is a self-supporting species, neither a climber nor a vine, and does not exhibit epiphytic behavior. In terms of stature, the plant reaches a maximum height of approximately 3 m, with a mean height consistent with this dimension.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cymbopogon flexuosus is characterized by a highly efficient carbon fixation mechanism, utilizing the C4 photosynthetic pathway rather than the C3 or CAM pathways. This specialized metabolic route allows the plant to concentrate carbon dioxide around the enzyme Rubisco, significantly reducing photorespiration and enabling efficient growth even under high temperatures and intense light conditions. Regarding its nutrient acquisition processes, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms and must instead rely on the uptake of nitrates or ammonium from the soil.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C4

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cymbopogon flexuosus has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Chemicals

Cymbopogon flexuosus has 37 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Citral, GERANIOL, 3,5,6-TRICHLORO-2-PYRIDINOL, Arundoin, BETA-SITOSTEROL.

Citral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik
4. The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology

GERANIOL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

3,5,6-TRICHLORO-2-PYRIDINOL

1. Journal of hazardous materials

Arundoin

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

Borneol

1. Dr. Duke

CATALASE

1. Frontiers in plant science

CITRONELLAL

1. Dr. Duke

Caryophyllene

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Caryophyllene oxide

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Activities

Cymbopogon flexuosus has 171 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, (-)-Chronotropic, (-)-Inotropic, ACE-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. Scientific reports
4. Journal of food biochemistry

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AChE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Cymbopogon flexuosus has 11 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include salinity stress, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, antioxidant, breast cancer.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations