Rosha Grass

(Cymbopogon martinii,) a perennial herbaceous plant of the family Gramineae. The plant, which reaches a height of 1.5–2 m, has panicled inflorescences and lanceolate or linear-lanceolate leaves. The rosha grass grows wild in the arid regions of India. It is cultivated in a number of countries in southern Asia, including India, Java, and Sumatra. There are two varieties of rosha grass: var. motia and var. sofia. The stems, leaves, and inflorescences yield valuable palmarosa oil, which is used in the perfume and cosmetic industries. C martinii var. motia contains as much as 80 percent geraniol, and C. martinii var. sofia contains not more than 30 percent.