cogongrass: Imperata cylindrica (Cyperales: Poaceae): Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States

cogongrass	USDA PLANTS Symbol: IMCY U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Grass or Grasslike
Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv.

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Taxonomic Rank: Liliopsida: Cyperales: Poaceae
Synonym(s): cogon grass, alang-alang
Native Range: Old World trop. & temp regions (GRIN);
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.

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Invasive Species Management Plans for Florida - University of Florida - Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
Nonnative Invasive Plants of 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
Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas - University of Florida

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

EDDMapS Distribution:
This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org

State(s) Where Reported invasive.
Based on state level agency and organization lists of invasive plants from WeedUS database.

Native Alternatives:
Carex crinita (fringed sedge) Carex lupulina (hop sedge) Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats) Elymus hystrix (eastern bottlebrush grass) Imperata brevifolia (California satintail) Panicum virgatum (switchgrass)	More Information on Native Plants at: www.beplantwise.org PlantWise is a partnership between the National Park Service, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, The Garden Club of America and The National Invasive Species Council to prevent harmful invasive plants from invading natural areas.