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The names "nut grass" and "nut sedge" are derived from the tubers of Cyperus rotundus, which somewhat resemble nuts, although botanically they have nothing to do with nuts. It may reach a height of up to 140 cm. It is native to Africa, southern and central Europe, and southern Asia. The word cyperus derives from the Greek kyperos, and rotundus is from Latin, meaning "round". Some of its rhizomes grow horizontally or downward and form dark reddish-brown tubers or chains of tubers. The difficulty of controlling the plant comes from its extensive system of underground tubers and its resistance to most herbicides.

In traditional Chinese medicine it is considered the primary qi-regulating herb. The Charaka Samhita (circa 100 AD) of ancient Indian ayurvedic medicine mentions the plant. Modern ayurvedic medicine uses the plant, known as musta, for fevers, digestive system disorders, dysmenorrhea and other maladies. The Ayurvedic texts mention two types of Musta: Nagara Musta, identified as Cyperus scariosus, and Bhadra Musta, identified as C. rotundus. Both species are traded under the name Musta.

Four chemotypes of the essential oil of C. rotundus from different parts of Asia have been reported. In all previous reports on the oils of C. rotundus from around the world, α-cyperone, cyperene, cyperotundone and β-selinene were the major compounds identified in higher concentrations.

An essential oil called cypriol or nagarmotha oil is distilled from the roots of Cyperus scariosus, a different species. Cyperus scariosus is a herbaceous plant with a papyrus-like morphology, and it has erect, angular stems bearing short, slender, light green leaves. The essential oil of Cyperus scariosus contains mainly bicyclic and tricyclic sesquiterpenes. A sesquiterpene ketone named cyperotundone was isolated from three Cyperus species: C. rotundus, C. scariosus and C. articulatus.

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