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Fever Grass

Scientific Name
Cymbopogon flexuosus
Family 
Poaceae
Status
Non-Native (culiatived medicinal & culinary grass))
​

Botanical Description

Cymbopogon flexuosus, commonly known in The Bahamas as Fever Grass, is a tufted perennial aromatic grass that typically grows 3–6 feet (1–2 m) tall. It forms dense clumps and is widely grown for bush tea and household use.

Growth Form
  • Dense clump-forming habit
  • Upright arching leaves
  • Multiple stems arising from the base
  • Fast-growing under warm conditions
Leaves
  • Long, narrow, and strap-like
  • Bright green to bluish-green
  • Sharp-edged margins
  • Strong lemon fragrance when crushed
  • The leaves are rich in aromatic oils.
Stems
  • Base thickened and fibrous
  • Pale green to yellowish near the lower stem
  • Aromatic throughout
Flowers
  • Tall flowering stalks may develop under suitable conditions
  • Flower heads loose and grass-like
  • Flowering less common in frequently harvested plants
Roots
  • Fibrous root system
  • Helps bind soil

Habitat

Cymbopogon flexuosus grows as a cultivated species in gardens but has occasionally escaped into other Human Altered environments.

Distribution 

Native to South Asia, especially India and Sri Lanka, but introduced widely throughout tropical regions. 

Ecological Importance

  • Provides shelter for insects in garden settings

  • Aromatic oils may deter some pests

  • Limited ecological ecological importance role in native ecosystems

Cultural Notes

  • Widely used in Bahamian bush medicine

  • Brewed as tea for colds, fever, and relaxation

  • Common household medicinal plant

  • Also used for flavoring foods and drinks

Fever Grass is one of the most familiar and widely used medicinal plants in Bahamian homes.

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