cogongrass
Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv.
Overview
- Appearance
- Imperata cylindrica is a perennial, colony-forming grass which can grow up to 6 ft. (1.8 m) tall.
- Foliage
- Leaves have an off-center, whitish midrib and finely serrated margins. Leaves are up to 6 ft. (1.8 m) long, 0.5-0.75 in. (1.3-1.9 cm) wide, stiff, and have a sharp, pointed apex. Rhizomes are whitish, branched, scaly and sharp at the tips.
- Flowers
- Flower heads are 2-8 in. (5.1-20.3 cm) long, silvery-white and cylindrical.
- Fruit
- Imperata cylindrica is best identified in the spring by the large fuzzy panicle of flowers and seeds, giving the plant a cottony or silky look.
- Ecological Threat
- Imperata cylindrica is an extremely aggressive invader with the capability of invading a range of sites. It forms dense, usually circular infestations that exclude all other vegetation. It is native to Southeast Asia and was accidently introduced into the southeast United States in packing material in the early 1900s. It was also intentionally introduced for erosion control and livestock forage.
Resources
- Invasive Species Management Plans for Florida - University of Florida - Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
- A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests - USDA Forest Service
- Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States - USDA Forest Service
- Domestic Programs Pest Evaluation - USDA APHIS PPQ
- Cogongrass Web Site - Bugwood Network
- Identifying and Controlling Cogongrass in Georgia - GA Invasive Species Task Force
- Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas - Plant Conservation Alliance
- Federal Noxious Weed Disseminules of the U.S. - USDA-APHIS
- Weed of the Week - USDA Forest Service
Selected Images
Maps
EDDMapS Distribution - This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts, herbaria, and literature. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org
State List - This map identifies those states that list this species on their invasive species list or law. For more information, visit Invasive.org
Invasive Listing Sources
- Alabama Invasive Plant Council
- Alachua County Cogongrass Initiative
- Apalachicola Invasive Working Group
- Arkansas Noxious Weeds
- Federal Noxious Weeds
- Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council - Category I
- Florida Noxious Weeds
- Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council - Category 1 Alert
- Invasive Species of Concern in Georgia
- Jil M. Swearingen, Survey of invasive plants occurring on National Park Service lands, 2000-2007
- John Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Survey of TNC Preserves, 1995.
- Maryland Department of Agriculture's Candidates for Listing of Invasive Plants
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources Policy: Restriction on Planting Exotic Invasive Plants
- Maryland Invasive Species Council - Invasive Species of Concern in Maryland
- Mississippi Noxious Weeds
- New York Regulated and Prohibited Invasive Species - Prohibited
- Non-Native Invasive Plants of Arlington County, Virginia
- Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
- Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Invasive Plants
- South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant Council
- Southwest Florida Cooperative Invasive Species Mgmt. Area
- Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council
- Tennessee Noxious Weeds
- USDA APHIS Regulated Pest List
- Utah Noxious Weeds - Prohibited
- Virginia Invasive Plant Species List
- Virginia Noxious Weeds
- Virginia Regulations for Enforcement of Noxious Weeds Law
- WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
Taxonomic Rank
| Kingdom: Plantae |
| Phylum: Magnoliophyta |
| Class: Liliopsida |
| Subclass: Commelinidae |
| Order: Cyperales |
| Family: Poaceae |
| Genus: Imperata |
| Subject: Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv. |
Synonyms and Other Names
Other Common Names:
cogon grass, alang-alang, Japanese blood grass
Related Scientific Names:
Imperata arundinacea (L.) Beauv. (Synonym)