Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty.
| Synonym : | Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash. Anatherum muricatum (Retz.) P.Beauv. Anatherum zizanioides (L.) |
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| Bangla Name : | Khas-khas, Bena, Gandhabena, Gandhamul, Benamul. |
| English Name : | Vetiver, Khas-khas, Khus-khus, Cuscus Grass. |
| Family : | Poaceae |
| Disease : | Tonic, refrigerant, stomachic, astringent, stimulant, diuretic, antispasmodic, emmenagogue, fevers, inflammations, stomach, cholera and headache. |
| Description : | A densely tufted perennial grass. Rootstock branching with spongy aromatic roots. Culms stout, up to 1.8 m high. Leaf-sheaths compressed, especially the lower which are sharply keeled, blades narrowly linear, acute, 30-90 cm long, erect, rigid. Panicle oblong, up to over 30 cm long, usually contracted, rachis stout smooth. Racemes up to 5 cm long, very slender. Sessile spikelets linear-lanceolate to almost linear, acute, 4.2-4.8 mm long. |
| Distribution : | All over Bangladesh in low lying areas, near water bodies. |
| Chemical Constituents : | Root contains an essential oil called Vetiver oil, is composed of azulene, nootkatane and eudesmane sesquiterpene compounds, which include nootkatene, valencene, isovalencenol, isovalencenic acid, nootkatone, ?-vetivone, 7-epi-nootkatone, ?-vetivene, ?-ve |
| Uses : | Roots are tonic, refrigerant, stomachic, astringent, stimulant, diuretic, antispasmodic and emmenagogue. As a cooling it is used in fevers, inflammations and irritability of stomach. Essence of root is used to check vomiting of cholera. Grass in the form |
| Habit : | Herb |