Vetiver is the perennial and tall grass that is grown in wild. The roots are branched along with subtle rootlets. The plant grows upto 1.5 meters tall. The leaves are long and thin with purple to brown flowers. It prefers various types of climates and soils. It is also useful for the sodic, acid, saline and alkaline soils. It is tolerable to high content of manganese, aluminium and heavy metals that contained in soil. It is tolerable to drought due to the presence of deep and extensive roots. It stands in 50°C heat, -10°C frost and 450 mm rainfall.
| Name | Vetiver |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chrysopogon zizanioides |
| Native | Native to India |
| Common/English Name | Cuscus grass, khus-khus, khus-khus grass, vetiver, vetiver grass, Khuskhus Vetiver, Motgrass, Vetiveria |
| Name in Other Languages | French: chiendent odorant, vétiver, Polypogon vert, Polypogon vrai; German: Vetivergras; India: khas-khas; Portuguese (Brazil): capim-de-cheiro, capim-sândalo, patchuli-falso; Swedish: vetivergräs; Bikol: rimóras, móra; Cebuano: amóora, móra, giron, móras, tres-móras, rimódas; Chinese: xiang gen cao, Yán láncǎo (tōngchēng) {岩兰草 (通称)}, Xiāng gēn cǎo (香根草); Fijian: mulimuli; French: vétiver, chiendent odorant; Hindi: khas khas, garara; Iloko: amóras; Maori (Cook Islands): mauku a‘I, a‘I; Pampangan: ílib, anías de móras; Spanish: zacate violeta, raíz de móras; Tagalog: móro, móras; Tongan: ahi siaina; Malayalam: Ramacham, vettiver; Danish: Vetiverrod; Italian: Gramigna delle Indie, Gramigna Indiana; Kannada: Vetiveru; Malayalam: Ramacham; Sanskrit: Reshira, Sugandhimuta, Sugandhimula, Ushira; Tamil: Vettiver; Telugu: Kuruveru |
| Plant Growth Habit | Dense, clumping |
| Growing Climate | Hot, humid |
| Soil | Moist |
| Plant Size | Height: 5 feet |
| Lifespan | Perennial |
| Root | Strong, finely structured |
| Branches | Whorled, jointed, fragile, appressed, ascending, Length: 5-7.5 cm |
| Stem | Erect, stiff |
| Leaf | Narrow, linear, grassy, erect, Length: 150 cm (5 ft.); Wide: 8 mm (0.3 inch); Blades: glabrous, narrow, Broad: 5-12 mm, Length:30-90 cm |
| Flower | Hermaphrodite, brownish to purple |
| Flavor/aroma | Sweet, pleasant |
| Traditional uses |
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| Precautions | The use of Vetiver by the pregnant or breast feeding women could result miscarriage. |
| How to Eat | The roots are used as a flavoring for foods. |