Practically nothing is known of the conditions under which 
this grass grows; but it has a distinctly xerophytic habit. It is 
a highly aromatic grass. There is, however, no evidence that it is 
used for extracting oil or for any other purposes, unless it is one 
of the ' lemon-grasses ' of the Malabar district to which the 
following* refers : " The natives of Ernad and Waluvanad 
empirically distinguish no fewer than 27 species of lemon-grass, 
but Bay that only five of these varieties possess a commercial 
value. They also state that the most valuable of these varieties 
docs not blossom. Ernad and Waluvanad, I am reliably informed, 
are full of hills on which lemon-grass grows wild and could 
be had virtually for the collecting." The variety which does 
nut blossom is, I may add, very probably C. cltratus. The 
rernaeolar names which I have been able to collect require further 
continuation ana revision. They are to be found in the second 
p irt of this paper under C. coloratus, 
7. Cymbopogon citratus, Stapf. 
(Andropogon citratus DO.) 
Lemon Grass (^ %o X 1,*) ; Sereh (Malay). 
Early History in Tndia.— In 1095, Petiver announced in 
his Museum (p. 55, no. 586) a « Gramen citratum fragrantis- 
simuin e Madraspatan." A few years later Plukenet referred to 
me same grass in Almag. Mant. p. 97 (1700) in these words : 
uramen cyperoides citratum, Ind. Or. foliis odore corticum 
tain ; \ asnamllee Malabarorum." The sender of the grass was 
Seventh Book of East Indian Plants,', edited and commented on 
Zlwi Ver % glV /% the followin S account of it: -This is a most 
;?™!,f a j f ra 9l' aut r "'"^ which being rubbed smells like 
, lMl ';? ™* ". and give the Lotion of it with 
-s for Fevers and to strengthen weak stomachs; but 
me i\ atives use it not, which together with its growing in Gardens 
, oea coas t and not up the Countrv as I ran \et observe. 
Sante^t h hiUk ^^nga^ brought tLirLZd^lT^ 
and tenant 'rnT^K™ eXCellent a Hant of 8uch fragrant 
ra* i ind Tit n If ™u W man y Virtues. I use it in many 
on^Antonio P,l K 8378 '^^ ab ° Ut 30 ?™™ »&°. ™-> aD °ut 1666, 
Paliacu ol nf ' ^°l g ^ 3 Pots of this Gra ^ from Batavia to 
B?oW8 2«lZ hlCh he , 8ent t0 a Garde »> ^^at Madrass." 
Kffi wi longer in existence; but there can 
Rot tier's herh , ** *? e plant was ' Fr °m a note on a label in 
it i ^iba^h& , Z P n 7 ^ thG P o^gue S e in India called 
p.35? eprint fr ° m tKe Madras Mail S Tro^cT 
