Cuscus grass

Description

A soft, curly, pleasant smelling grass (Vetiveria zizanioides) native to all tropical regions of Asia. Cuscus grass is used to make mats, hats, purses, fans, cushions, boxes, baskets, and small ornaments. The roots of the plant are used to produce a scented oil.

Synonyms and Related Terms

couscous; kuskus; khus-khus; laavancha; laamancha; laamaccha; lamajja; vetiver; vetivert; usheera (Sanskrit); Vetiveria zizanioides; Pennisetum typhoideum

Additional Images

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  Cuscus grass

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  Cuscus grass

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  Cuscus grass Vetiveria zizanioides

Sources Checked for Data in Record

• Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997 Comment: Pennisetum typhoideum

• The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998

• Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "vetiver." Encyclopædia Britannica. 29 Sept. 2004 .

• Website address 1 Comment: http://www.kamleshayurveda.com/top/vetivert.htm

• Website address 2 Comment: Phytochemical database at http://www.vetiver.com/TVN_vetoil03.pdf