Description: A perennial aromatic grass forming dense clumps with long narrow leaves and a deep, extensive root system.

Identification: Tall dense grass clump; narrow leaves; strongly aromatic roots.

Habitat & distribution: Tropical and subtropical regions; widely cultivated in India.

Uses / importance: Roots are used for fragrance and traditional cooling products. The deep roots are valuable for soil stabilization and erosion control.

Taxonomy:
Kingdom – Plantae
Clade – Angiosperms
Clade – Monocots
Order – Poales
Family – Poaceae
Genus – Chrysopogon
Species – C. zizanioides

Sources: Kew POWO; agricultural/environmental literature.