Citronella Grass

Andropogon nardus L. Sp. PI. 1046. 1753
Sorgum Nardus Kuntze, Rev. Gen. 792. 1891.
A tall aromatic perennial, with the elongate leaves crowded at the base of the stem, and a large decompound inflorescence. Stems 1-2 m. tall, much branched; leaf -sheaths terete, smooth and glabrous, glaucous; blades up to 1 m. long, 1.5-2 cm. wide, glabrous, glaucous below; inflorescence up to 8 dm. long, lax; spathes narrowly cymbiform, 1.5-2 cm. long; racemes 1-1.5 cm. long, of 4 or 5 internodes, equaling or extending somewhat beyond the apex of the spathes ; perfect sessile spikelet 4-5 mm. long, lanceolate, narrowed from the middle or above, the first scale narrowly winged on the keels, the intercarinal space flat and 2-4-nerved, the fourth scale 2-toothed at the apex, muticous or mucronate; pedicellate spikelet staminate, acute.
Type locality : India.
Distribution: Old World tropics, often cultivated in the American tropics, and escaping in Florida, Jamaica, Martinique, and Guadeloupe.