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

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



U.S. National Parks where reported invasive:
Colonial National Historical Park (Virginia)



Invasive Listing Sources:
Alabama Invasive Plant Council
Archbold Biological Station
Faith Campbell, 1998. Plants that Hog the Garden: Invasive Plants in the United States. Fine Gardening Online
Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council
Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council
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.
Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2005
South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant Council
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, 1999.