That’s one cool root!

"A Plant a Day"- Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanoides)-

 Vetiver is a bunching-type of grass that can grow up to 5-6 feet, originally a native of India. In contrast to other grasses that form a shallow matt vertically along the soil surface, Vetiver has very strong fibrous deep roots that can grow over 10 feet in their first year! This gives Vetiver the excellent ability to bind and stabilize soil against erosion and even heavy grazing pressure. It is a good drought tolerant forage grass for livestock, but what it is mostly known for is the beautiful scent of the roots—often described as a refreshing, yet earthy, sweet amber scent. Its roots can be used for making rope, but also a number of handicrafts (that also smell beautifully). One of my favorite items I have seen are window shades made of Vetiver root that can be misted with water to release their amazing cooling scent on hot days. Vetiver essential oil is used in aromatherapy, cosmetics, body care, perfumes and flavorings. In fact, Vetiver is reportedly present in about 90% of all western perfumes, not only for its scent, but also its fixative properties. One of the neat things about Vetiver for aromatherapy, as opposed to many oils, is that there is clinical research that proves its efficacy! One study showed that people who inhaled it in low doses showed faster reaction times and performance in visual discrimination tasks. In another study, it was shown to increase gamma brain wave activity, thought to be characteristic of people who experience higher levels of cognition, a greater ability to concentrate and intense feelings of satisfaction.

#APlantADay #UsefulPlants #MedicinalPlants #Ethnopharm #Ethnobotany #vetiver #essentialoil #cooling #erosion #grazing #forage #droughttolerant #cognition #perfume #flavor

Photo by treesftf