Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty

Tussocky perennial; roots stout, aromatic. Culms robust, 1–2.5 m tall, ca. 5 mm in diam. Leaf sheaths glabrous, lower sharply keeled and imbricate in fanlike clusters; leaf blades linear, pale green, stiff, 30–90 × 0.5–1 cm, pilose on adaxial surface toward base, otherwise glabrous; ligule a scarious rim. Panicle oblong in outline, 20–30 cm, usually contracted, purplish; branches numerous, lowermost 5–20 cm, bare at base, smooth or slightly scaberulous; racemes slender, with 5–13 spikelet pairs and a terminal triad; internodes and pedicels slightly scabrid. Sessile spikelet linear-lanceolate to almost linear, 4–5 mm; callus rounded, subglabrous; lower glume muricate, 3–5-veined, veins spinulosely aculeate, apex acute; upper glume spinulosely aculeate on keel, not awned; upper lemma slightly 2-toothed, awnless or mucronate; mucro 0–2 mm, not exserted. Pedicelled spikelet staminate, sparingly aculeolate or almost smooth. Fl. and fr. Aug–Oct. 2n = 20.

It is a tropical plant. It grows in areas that are seasonally flooded. It grows in ponds and ditches. It is good for cleaning dirty water.

The fragrant oil is used to flavour sherbets, syrup sweets and fruit drinks. Vetivar extracts are added to canned asparagus to enhance the flavour.

It can be grown from rhizomes and rooted stems.