Pelargonium citrosum

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The "citronella plant" is a geranium plant marketed as "Pelargonium citrosum", but according to the American Botanical Council, " 'Pelargonium citrosum' is not a valid taxonomic designation."^[1] "Pelargonium citrosum" is marketed as a mosquito plant, or citrosa geranium in stores in the United States and Canada, but research indicates Pelargonium citrosum is ineffective against Aedes aegypti mosquitos.^[2] "Not only was the plant ineffective at protecting humans against Aedes mosquito bites, the mosquitoes were seen landing and resting on the citrosa plant on a regular basis."^[1]

It is not related to true citronella. It contains some essential oil isolates that also occur in mosquito repellent plants. It is sold in this capacity .

It is claimed that P.citrosum may be a genetic bonding of the African geranium with genes from cymbopogon grass[1], but there is no scientific basis for this claim.

The citronella geranium is not to be confused with other mosquito plants, nor with the grass also known as citronella. Also, citronella oil does not come from P.citrosum.

Not to be confused with Citronella mucronata (Chilean Citronella), which is a tree.

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b Study Shows Citrosa Ineffective as Mosquito Repellent.. content.herbalgram.org. Retrieved on 2008-03-21.
^ Matsuda, Brent M.; Surgeoner, Gordon A.; Heal, James D.; Tucker, Arthur O.; Maciarello, and Michael J., Essential oil analysis and field evaluation of the citrosa plant "Pelargonium citrosum" as a repellent against populations of Aedes mosquitoes. Department of Environmental Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Can. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association (1996), 12(1), 69-74. Publisher: American Mosquito Control Association, CODEN: JAMAET ISSN: 8756-971X. Journal written in English.