cogongrass: Imperata cylindrica (Cyperales: Poaceae)

cogongrass
Cyperales > Poaceae > 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 accidentally introduced into the southeast United States in packing material in the early 1900s. It was also intentionally introduced for erosion control and livestock forage.

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States - USDA Forest Service FHTET

Field Guide to the Identification of Cogongrass - University of Georgia

Fire Effects Information System - USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station

Identifying and Controlling Cogongrass in Georgia - University of Georgia

Invasive Plant Responses to Silvicultural Practices in the South - University of Georgia

Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests - USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station

Prescriptions for Specific Nonnative Invasive Plants - USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station

Proceedings of the Regional Cogongrass Conference: A Cogongrass Management Guide - Auburn University

Stop Cogongrass Hitchhikers - Auburn University

Weeds Gone Wild Fact Sheets - Plant Conservation Alliance's Alien Plant Working Group

Weeds of the Week - USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, Forest Health Protection

Selected Images from Invasive.org

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Plant(s); note the flowering plant at the center back Jeffrey W. Lotz, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Feature(s); Plant Base Richard Carter, Valdosta State University, Bugwood.org 768x512	Root(s); Rhizome Carey Minteer, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Feature(s); Leaf-collar region Mark Atwater, Weed Control Unlimited, Inc., Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Foliage; Showing off-center midrib Mark Atwater, Weed Control Unlimited, Inc., Bugwood.org 768x512	Feature(s); The whitish midribs are often off-center. Mitchell County, GA Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Plant(s); Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Root(s); Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Feature(s); Sharp-pointed rhizome Mark Atwater, Weed Control Unlimited, Inc., Bugwood.org 768x512
Feature(s); Segmented rhizomes with outer covering intact (bottom) and removed (top) Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Feature(s); Ligule Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Feature(s); Collar region Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Flower(s); Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Flower(s); Mark Atwater, Weed Control Unlimited, Inc., Bugwood.org 768x512	Fruit(s); Mark Atwater, Weed Control Unlimited, Inc., Bugwood.org 768x512
Flower(s); Mark Atwater, Weed Control Unlimited, Inc., Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Flower(s); Mark Atwater, Weed Control Unlimited, Inc., Bugwood.org 768x512	Infestation; in pine reforestation Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Infestation; Large infestation Wilson Faircloth, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Infestation; Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Control; Same area as previous image after 3 years of treatment with glyphosate. Carey Minteer, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; Mark Atwater, Weed Control Unlimited, Inc., Bugwood.org 768x512
Dispersal; Stuck in radiator of tractor Mark Atwater, Weed Control Unlimited, Inc., Bugwood.org 768x512	Infestation; Mark Atwater, Weed Control Unlimited, Inc., Bugwood.org 768x512	Infestation; David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Infestation; Herbicide test plots bare in 20-year old stand James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; Roadside infestation Wilson Faircloth, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; Mark Atwater, Weed Control Unlimited, Inc., Bugwood.org 768x512
Infestation; Small infestation in woods Mark Atwater, Weed Control Unlimited, Inc., Bugwood.org 768x512	Infestation; David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512	Infestation; Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Infestation; David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Control; Deep disking John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Feature(s); Rhizomes John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Feature(s); a severe infestation in a longleaf pine upland in central Florida James R. Meeker, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; In Winter Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Mark Crosby, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Plant(s); Planted "Red Baron" variety David Teem, Auburn University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; Distinctive circular infestations in harvest stand. Greg Leach, International Paper, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Infestation; Tony Pernas, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Prescribed Fire; Prescribed fire to remove thatch before herbicide application David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Diagram or Graphic; David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512

Invasive Reference(s):

Check Invasive.org for most current lists.

Federal Noxious Weed List
Alabama - IPC List
Arkansas - Noxious Weed Law
California - Noxious Weed Law
Florida - EPPC list
Georgia - EPPC list
Mississippi - Noxious Weed Law
Mississippi - 10 Worst Invasive Weeds
North Carolina - Noxious Weed Law
Oregon - Noxious Weed Law
South Carolina - EPPC List
South Carolina - Noxious Weed Law
Tennessee - Noxious Weed Law
Texas - Invasive Plant List
Vermont - Noxious Weed Law
Virginia - Invasive Alien Plant Species
Mid-Atlantic - EPPC List
Invasive Plants: Guide to Identification and the Impacts and Control of Common North American Species
Invasive Plant Atlas of the Mid-South

External Links


				Bargeron, C.T., C.R. Minteer, C.W. Evans, D.J. Moorhead, G.K. Douce and R.C. Reardon. Technical Coordinators. 2008. Invasive Plants of the United States DVD-ROM: Identification, Biology and Control. USDA Forest Service. Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. Morgantown, WV. FHTET-08-11.