| cogongrass | USDA PLANTS SYMBOL: IMCY |
| Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv. | |
| Synonym(s): cogon grass, alang-alang | |
Cogongrass is a perennial, colony-forming grass which can grow up to 6 ft. (1.8 m) tall. 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. Cogongrass is best identified in the spring by the large fuzzy panicle of flowers and seeds, giving the plant a cottony or silky look. Flower heads are 2-8 in. (5.1-20.3 cm) long, silvery-white and cylindrical. Cogongrass 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. Cogongrass 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. |
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Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
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| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Plant(s); note the flowering plant at the center back Jeffrey W. Lotz, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); Plant Base Richard Carter, Valdosta State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Root(s); Rhizome Carey Minteer, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); Leaf-collar region Mark Atwater, Weed Control Unlimited, Inc., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Showing off-center midrib Mark Atwater, Weed Control Unlimited, Inc., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); The whitish midribs are often off-center. Mitchell County, GA Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Root(s); Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); Sharp-pointed rhizome Mark Atwater, Weed Control Unlimited, Inc., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); Segmented rhizomes with outer covering intact (bottom) and removed (top) Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); Ligule Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); Collar region Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Mark Atwater, Weed Control Unlimited, Inc., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); Mark Atwater, Weed Control Unlimited, Inc., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Mark Atwater, Weed Control Unlimited, Inc., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Mark Atwater, Weed Control Unlimited, Inc., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Cogongrass infestation in Mississippi Pine Plantation. Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Large infestation Wilson Faircloth, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Control; Same area as this image after 3 years of treatment with glyphosate. Carey Minteer, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Mark Atwater, Weed Control Unlimited, Inc., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Dispersal; Stuck in radiator of tractor Mark Atwater, Weed Control Unlimited, Inc., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Mark Atwater, Weed Control Unlimited, Inc., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Herbicide test plots bare in 20-year old stand James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Roadside infestation Wilson Faircloth, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Mark Atwater, Weed Control Unlimited, Inc., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Small infestation in woods Mark Atwater, Weed Control Unlimited, Inc., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Control; Deep disking John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); Rhizomes John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); a severe infestation in a longleaf pine upland in central Florida James R. Meeker, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; In Winter Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Mark Crosby, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Planted "Red Baron" variety David Teem, Auburn University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Distinctive circular infestations in harvest stand. Greg Leach, International Paper, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Tony Pernas, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Prescribed Fire; Prescribed fire to remove thatch before herbicide application David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Diagram or Graphic; David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |