When enjoying a southeast asian soup or cup of herbal tea, we are really savoring the flavor of lemongrass. Similarly, the sweet aroma of mosquito-repelling lotions comes from the citronella oil present in them. Fine perfumes, candles, and herbal pillows with the pleasing smell of rose are often in fact scented with palmarosa. Providing an in-depth look at their history and production, Essential Oil Bearing Grasses: The genus Cymbopogon provides a comprehensive review of these economically important grasses.

A detailed examination of chemical...