• Botanical Name: Cymbopogon martinii
• Family: Graminae
• Flowering and fruiting: July-August
• Parts Used: Whole plant
• Distribution: Cultivated throughout plain area of Nepal.
• Method of Extraction: Steam Distillation

Description:

A perennial grass to 3m tall. Leaves linear-lanceolate, cordate or amplexicaule, 8-50 cm long, 1-3 cm broad. flowers spikelets in panicles turning reddish brown when mature. Plant is acrid.

Specification of Palmarosa
1. Organoleptic Properties
Appearance	Fluid liquid.
Color	Pale yellow
Aroma	Sweet, floral rosy
2. Physico-chemical Properties
Specific gravity	0.8805 to 0.9007 at 25º C
Optical rotation	[-] 0.5º to [+] 0.75º at 25º C.
Refractive index	1.475 to 1.4798 at 25º C
Acid number	0.85 to 10.5
Ester number	15 to 48.5
Ester number after acetylation	240 to 305
Solubility	Soluble in 1.2 to 2.5 vol. of 70% alcohol
3. Chemical constituent:
Citral, Geranyl Acetate, Linalyl Acetate, Geranial, Neral, Limonene, Myrcene, Beta-caryophyllene
4. Uses
Plant is aromatic, carminative, diuretic, cardio tonic and febrifuge. For the isolation of high grade geranial; in the cosmetics industry for scenting of soaps; in flavoring of tobacco. Medicinal & Aromatherapy use: Antiseptic and bactericide, stomachic, relieve the discomforts of flu and a high temperature, wrinkles, broken veins, boils, normalize thyroid, nervous exhaustion, stress related conditions.