Vetiver from Niger, (Vetiveria nigritana) roots

You can also find this product in powder form.

Scientific name: Chrysopogon nigritanus, syn. Vetiveria nigritana
Famiglia: Lamiaceae (ex Labiatee)
Common name: Vetiver, Black Vetiver
Origin of harvest: Mali

Part of the plant: roots

Chrysopogon nigritanus, more widely known by the taxonomic synonym Vetiveria nigritana, or the common name black vetivergrass.

The root is tied with a traditional method, also useful for making handcrafted objects.

It has a long history in traditional African medicine, used

Tradicional uses

here are many medical uses that have been derived from Vetiveria nigritana because the plant contains very high levels of essential oils that can be distilled and used for traditional medical applications. Firstly, Vetiveria nigritana can and has been used to increase the quality of the taste of drinking water in less developed nations such as Africa. In addition, the plant has also traditionally been used to eliminate pathogenic bacteria that are present. Lastly, Vetiveria nigritana is also beneficial at reducing diarrhea and has been used historically to treat children with a great deal of success. Therefore, Vetiveria nigritana is beneficial to poor farmers because it provides traditional cost effective ways to fight infections and disease.

Another benefit of Vetiveria nigritana is its ability to deter pests from damaging crops while in the field during the growing season and from ruining the quality of plants while in storage. In Africa it was discovered that by planting Vetiveria nigritana in hedgerows around maize, that maize stem borers would attach to the plant more frequently than to maize and when the larvae hatched the potential borers died. In addition, Vetiveria nigritana is also beneficial in protecting certain crops after harvest, such as rice crops, because when the leaves of the plant are boiled in sea salt and then placed below and above the crop in a storage environment they act as a repellent for insects, while also preventing mold. Therefore, the use of Vetiveria nigritana would be beneficial to subsistence farmers because it would protect their crops and help ensure their survival.

Aroma

Its aroma is slightly earthier; as soon as you put it to your nose, you might immediately notice a hint of mold and a scent reminiscent of the Geosmin molecule, the classic after-rain smell. But once you get past this initial “prejudice,” a world of subtle nuances opens up, analogy of Cedarwood and Tobacco with dusty notes.