Vetiver

Scientific name: Chrysopogon zizanioides 

Common name: vetiver 

English name: vetiver 

Parts used: roots. 

Properties: tonic for the mind, calms and instills strength and confidence. Counteracts stress and hyperactivity, supports concentration. 

Curiosity: vetiver can grow up to 1.5 meters high. It has tall stems and the leaves are long, thin, and rather stiff while the flowers are purple-brown in color. Unlike most grasses, which grow roots horizontally, vetiver roots grow downward, up to 2-4 meters deep. Originally from India, it is widely cultivated in tropical regions of the world: the largest producers in the world are Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand and Indochina. The essential oil is extracted from the roots, with a bitter-sweet, woody, earthy scent.