Aromatic Plant

Lemon grass, Cymbopogon citratus

Aromatic Plant plant species having a pleasant distinctive smell. These plants have high content of aromatic volatile organic substances collectively known as essential oil. These oils evaporate very easily at room temperature coming in contact with air releasing a pleasant fragrance. Aromatic oils are secreted in oil glands distributed in flowers, fruits and seeds, leaves, bark, roots and wood. They have been known to occur in some 60 plant families but particularly distributed in Labiatae, Rutaceae, Geraniaceae, Umbelliferae, Compositae, Lauraceae, Gramineae and Leguminosae.

In Bangladesh about 30 species grow naturally which can be considered as aromatic plants; the important ones are khus khus (Vetiveria zezanioides), cyperus (Cyperus species), lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus), mint (Mentha species), citronella (Cymbopogon nardus), basil (Ocimum species), citrus (Citrus species), zinger (Zingiber officinale), curcuma (Curcuma longa), boch (Acorus calamus), and greater galangal (Alpinia galanga). [Mostafa Kamal Pasha]