Cymbopogon, also known as lemongrass, barbed wire grass, silky heads, Cochin grass or Malabar grass or oily heads, is a genus of Asian, African, Australian, and tropical island plants in the grass family. Some species (particularly Cymbopogon citratus) are commonly cultivated as culinary and medicinal herbs because of their scent, resembling that of lemons(Citrus limon). The name cymbopogon derives from the Greek words kymbe ('boat') and pogon ('beard') "which mean [that] in most species, the hairy spikelets project from boat-shaped spathes.