153 



This grass is grown to a considerable extent in the hills of Jamaica 

 for the purpose, principally, of binding loose soil and forming embaak- 

 ments on steep hill-sides to prevent wash by heavy rains 



Fibre. In India the roots are used extensively for making aromatic 

 scented mats, called Tatties, which are hung over door-ways and win- 

 dows and kept wet to cool the atmosphere during the hot season, and 

 they are also in great demand for making fans, ornamental baskets, 

 and other small articles, &c. The grass is suited for the manufacture 

 of paper. 



Oil. The roots when distilled with water yield a fragrant oil which 

 is used as a perfume. 



Medicine. An infusion of the roots is given as a febrifuge, and a 

 powder in bilious complaints. A paste of the pulverised roots in water 

 is also used as a cooling external application in fevers. 



A. ScHGENANTHUs, Linn. {A. citratus, DC ) This is the well-known 

 Lemon Grass, or Fever Grass of Jamaica. Our grass has neA^er been 

 known to flower, so that some doubt exists as to its identity, although 

 it has hitherto been known here as Andropogon citratus, DO. It has 

 been carefully compared with plants of A. Sc^ oenanthus received from 

 Kew, and no difierence can be detected. Sir Joseph Hooker, in his 

 Flora of India, does not regard it as a distinct species, and in the Index 

 Kewensis, A. citratus is pat down as being synonymous with A. 

 Schoenanthus. Like A. squarrosus this species is grown in the hilly 

 districts of Jamaica to bind loose soil along the sides of plantation 

 roads, &c. It is found in the hotter pans of India and Oeylon, wild 

 or cultivated, and it is grown in most tropical countries. 



It is a rather coarse grass, forming large tufts, with glaucous, or 

 yellowish -green leaves ; and gi ows to a height of about 3 feet in Jamaica. 

 In India the leaves vary much in length, width, and other respects. 



Oil — Under the name of A citratus, DC, the Dictionary of Econo- 

 mic Products of ind'a, to which I am indebted for much of the infor- 

 mation contained in these notes, mentions that this plant yields lemon- 

 grass oil, verbena-oil, or Indian Molissa oil. This oil is chiefly em- 

 ployed in Europe in adulterating true verbena oil. It is largely em- 

 ployed to perfume soaps and greases The annual production of otto 

 of lemon in Ceylon is above 1,500 lbs., valued at Is. 4d. peroz. There 

 is a large consumption of this otto in the manufacture of E tu de Co- 

 logne. This oil is said to be more costly, and less extensively produced 

 than citronella ; it is chiefly manufactured in < eylon and Singapore. 



Medicine. — In the Indian Pharmacopoeia, this oil is regarded as 

 officinal. When pure it is of a pale sherry colour, transparent, with 

 an extremely pungent taste, and a peculiar fragrant Lmon-like odour. 

 The proper-ties attributed to it are, stimulant, carminative, antispas- 

 modic, and diaphoretic ; locally applied it is a rubefacient It is re- 

 commended to be administered in flatulent and spasmodic affections of 

 the bowels, and in gastric irritability. In cholera it has been spoken 

 of as a remedy of great value. An infusion of the leaves (tea) is 

 largely used as an agreeable sudorific in mild cases of fever, and as a 

 medicinal vapour bath for the same purpose. 



