Camel grass

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• camel grass
• geranium grass
• Fever grass

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Andropogon schoenanthus
• Sorghum schoenanthus
• Trachypogon schoenanthus

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 within the class Equisetopsida. It is further organized into the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Poales, falling under the family Poaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Cymbopogon.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Cymbopogon schoenanthus, is primarily distributed throughout the northern regions of the African continent. Its presence is well-documented across the diverse landscapes of Algeria and Egypt. Furthermore, it can be found growing within the territories of Libya and Morocco. The species also extends its reach into the coastal and inland areas of Tunisia. Consequently, its geographical range is concentrated within these five specific North African nations.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Cymbopogon schoenanthus is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or organic debris. Throughout its existence, the plant maintains an evergreen status, retaining its foliage continuously rather than shedding it seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cymbopogon schoenanthus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody, graminoid herb. The plant is self-supporting rather than acting as a climber or vine, and it functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte. As a terrestrial species, it does not inhabit aquatic or semiaquatic environments. In terms of stature, the plant typically maintains a height ranging from a minimum of 0.6 m to a maximum of 0.8 m, with an average plant height observed at approximately 0.3 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.8 m

Plant height mean:

0.3 m

Plant height min:

0.6 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cymbopogon schoenanthus is characterized by its specialized metabolic pathways designed for survival in arid and semi-arid environments. As a member of the Poaceae family, its physiological processes are optimized for efficient water use and nutrient acquisition, though it does not possess the symbiotic mechanisms required to function as a nitrogen fixer; therefore, its nitrogen fixation status is no. The plant relies on the uptake of mineral nitrogen from the soil through an extensive fibrous root system rather than atmospheric fixation. Its photosynthetic activity is driven by the C4 metabolic pathway, which allows for high rates of carbon fixation even under high temperatures and light intensities by minimizing photorespiration. This C4 mechanism, combined with a high degree of stomatal control, enables the plant to maintain positive carbon balance while minimizing transpirational water loss. Additionally, the plant exhibits significant secondary metabolic activity, specifically the biosynthesis of essential oils such as citronellal and geraniol within specialized glandular structures, which serve physiological roles in defense against herbivory and environmental stressors.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

Reproduction in Cymbopogon schoenanthus is characterized by the production of small seeds that exhibit specific quantitative variations in mass. The seed mass within a population shows a measurable range, with a recorded minimum value of 0.00107 g and a maximum value reaching 0.0218 g. On average, the seed mass is documented at a mean of 0.0016325 g, reflecting the fine-scale physical properties of its reproductive units.

Seed mass max:

0.00218 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0016325 g

Seed mass min:

0.00107 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cymbopogon schoenanthus has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, seed.

Leaf

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Seed

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Chemicals

Cymbopogon schoenanthus has 26 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include PIPERITONE, Elemol, (+)-2-Carene, 2,3-DIHYDROBENZOFURAN, 2-NAPHTHALENEMETHANOL.

PIPERITONE

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Natural product research
3. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Elemol

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Saudi journal of biological sciences

(+)-2-Carene

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

2,3-DIHYDROBENZOFURAN

1. Natural product research

2-NAPHTHALENEMETHANOL

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Antioxidants

1. Nutrients

CU

1. Journal of analytical methods in chemistry

CYCLOHEXANEMETHANOL

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Coumaric Acid

1. Fitoterapia

Cymbopogonol

1. Fitoterapia

Activities

Cymbopogon schoenanthus has 1 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Medicinal Uses

Cymbopogon schoenanthus has 11 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include (MRSA), Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, breast cancer.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations