Sanskrit name: darbha, kusha
Botanical name: Imperata cylindrica (l.) Raeusch.
Family name: poaceae (grass family)
Identification no.: SDACH/HG/236
Vernacular names:
Hindi: darbha, kusha
English: cogon grass
Tamil: darbai
Telugu: darbha gaddi
Malayalam: darbham
Kannada: darbe hullu
Synonyms :
कुशो दर्भस्तथा बर्हिः सूच्यग्रो यज्ञभूषणः । ततोऽन्यो दीर्घपत्रः स्यात्क्षुरपत्रस्तथैव च ॥१६५॥
Morphology
Tall perennial grass with sharp leaves and silvery-white midrib
Height: 60–120 cm
Flowers: white, feathery, in panicle form
Root: rhizomatous, fibrous and spreading underground
Varieties:
Imperata cylindrica var. Major – larger leaves, commonly found in the wild
Imperata cylindrica var. Africana – distributed in africa
Imperata cylindrica var. Koenigii – indian form commonly used in rituals
Substitute/adulterant:
Substitutes: desmostachya bipinnata (kusha grass) – often used interchangeably in rituals
Adulterants: saccharum spontaneum – wild sugarcane, cynodon dactylon – durva grass
Phytochemicals: flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids,silica, phenolic compounds
Raspanchaka:
Rasa (taste): tikta (bitter), kashaya (astringent)
Guna (quality): laghu (light), ruksha (dry)
Virya (potency): sheeta (cooling)
Vipaka: katu (pungent)
Prabhava: grahi (absorbent)
Dosha shamakta: pitta and rakta shamak
Karma (rogaghnata – therapeutic actions):
Rakta shodhaka (blood purifier)
Grahi (absorbent)
Dahahara (relieves burning)
Shothahara (anti-inflammatory)
Krimighna (anti-parasitic)
Amayika prayoga / therapeutic uses:
External: grass used in puja mats and homa for energy stabilization, dhoopan (fumigation) to purify environment
Internal: decoction or juice used in diarrhea, dysentery, and rakta-pitta, helps in excessive bleeding and burning sensation
Part used: whole plant, especially roots and leaves
Dose: swarasa (fresh juice): 10–20 ml
Kashaya (decoction): 30–50 ml
Yoga / formulations: mainly used in traditional household or spiritual settings
IUCN Status: Not Evaluated
Categorized as invasive in some ecological studies due to aggressive growth
Research updates
2020 – anti-inflammatory study:
Aqueous extract reduced inflammation in animal models.
2021 – antimicrobial potential:
Effective against staphylococcus aureus and e. Coli.
2022 – soil & environmental studies:
Demonstrated usefulness in erosion control and land reclamation.
