A tall perennial grass that is native to northern India. In addition to the oil, the roots contain fructose, glucose, sucrose, and free glycerol - mature roots have the highest essential oil concentration. Vetiver was transported around the world more than a century ago and its main use was to prevent soil erosion as its long rootlets would hold the soil on mountainous slopes during the wet season. It was introduced to Reunion Islands in the mid-1950s, which now produce the finest quality oil (Bourbon vetiver). Vetiever is also grown commercially for oil in Java, Seychelles, Brazil, Haiti, and Japan. In traditional medicine, the fresh roots were used to make a stimulant, tonic drink. In Ayurveda, it is used to allevaite thirst, heatstroke, headaches, and fever. The oil is also used to relieve rheumatoid arthirtis and overall join inflammation. A decoction of the roots is recommended to break down kidney stones. There are many other non-medicinal uses because the long, strong, fibrous roots help with soil erosion control, water filtration, animal feed (young leaves only), biofuel, and organic pest control.