3. Existing Information
Botanical Name : Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Robert
Chrysopogon zizanioides
chrysos - gold
pogon -beard
zizanion -a weed in cornfields.
Synonyms : Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash
Common Name : Khus-khus, Khus ghas, Valo
4. DISTRIBUTION
V. zizanioides grows naturally in swamp areas of India, Bangladesh, Burma
(Myanmar) and occurs probably naturalized in many parts of South-East
Asia. It has been in cultivation in India for centuries and is now found
throughout the tropics and in many subtropical areas
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils.
Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade.
It prefers moist soil.
Shoots growing from the underground crown make the plant frost and
wildfire resistant, and allow it to survive heavy grazing pressure.
They can survive deep water flow. Under clear water, the plant can
survive up to two months.
5.
6. Description
Habit : An erect herb, Perennials, Gregarious.
Stem : Stems 60-150 cm high, in large, dense tufts
Root : stout spongy aromatic root, sparingly branched, horizontally
spreading, mat-like root systems, roots grow downward, 2 m to 4 m
in depth.
Leaves : 3 m long and 8 mm wide, Subbifarious, narrow, acute, erect,
keeled, glabrous, margins scabrid, sheaths equitant, ligule obscure.
7.
8. Description
Inflorescence :
Panicle10-30 cm, 2.5-5 cm long branches, conical, erect, rachis stout and
erectopatent filiform flexuous branches glabrous or scaberulous.
Spikes slender joints and pedicels about as the sessile paired spikelets.
Sessile spikelets grey green yellow or purplish, slightly curved, glabrous, callus
obscurely bearded; glume first coriaceous, acute, 2-4 nerved, glume second
coriaceous, 1-nerved, margins hyaline, keel muricate; third glume lanceolate,
acuminate, 2-nerved, margins inflexed ciliolate; glume fourth as glume third, ciliate;
palea very small, obtuse, glabrous.
Pedicellated spikelets like the sessile but first glume smooth, glume fourth awnless.
Lower floret empty; upper floret male, long, oblong, 3 stamens
Flowering and Fruiting Time : October
12. USES
The roots are aromatic and yield an important essential oil for
perfumery industry.
Also woven into screens and tatties to be hung over doors or
set in windows in hot weather, when sprinkled with water, they
cool and perfume the air.
An infusion of the root is given as a febrifuge, and a powder in
bilious complaints.
It is regarded as stimulant, sudorific, stomachic and
refrigerant.
15. SIDDHA BENEFITS
• Soothing and cooling effect
• Calms circulatory system and
nervous system
• Nervine tonic
• Reduce anxiety
• Anti- inflammatory
• Sleep inducing medicine
• Anti septic
• Rejenuvetent
• Hepato- protective
• Anti microbial activity
• Used as pesticide
• Used against tuberculosis
• Curbs nausea and vomiting
• Cure Diabetes
• Cure Depression
• Prevent growth of cancer cells
• Cure bleeding disorder
• Cure disease of urinary system and
ulcers
17. Other uses
Increase ground water capacity
Increase bio mass of soil
Termite- repellent
Increases aeration in the soil
Prevents nematode
Can be grown along with cultivable crops
Fodder
Replace the straw or wood shaving pads in evaporative coolers