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Imperata cylindrica

Thu, 02/21/2008 - 1:58pm — beth56
Imperata cylindrica -- Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants

Imperata cylindrica

cogon grass

Non-Native to Florida


Video ID segment (2-3 minutes)
cogon grass cogon grass cogon grass cogon grass

 

    Cogon grass is among the world's worst weeds. It is a serious weed of drylands in Florida, but also occurs in places that become briefly flooded. It can cover large areas. Native to the warmer regions of the Old World, it was brought into the U.S. as an experimental forage. It has spread, partially through its use as a packing material.

    Cogon grass is a NON-NATIVE grass; from extensive rhizomes; stems spreading, 3-10 ft. tall; leaf blades hairy at base, tapering to narrow base, midvein off-center, margins sharp; ligule brown, papery; sheaths smooth to hairy; inflorescence showy white, cylindrical, plume-like, hairy; flowers hairy

    For general information about cogon grass, download this UF/IFAS-EDIS publication, Weeds in the Sunshine: Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica), Biology, Ecology and Management in Florida, by G.E. MacDonald, D.G. Shilling, B.J. Brecke, J.F. Gaffney, K.A. Langeland and J.T. Ducar.

    View more information and pictures about cogon grass, as contained in the Langeland/Burks book, Identification & Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas.

    See the UF/IFAS Assessment, which lists plants according to their invasive status in Florida.

    cogon grass View the herbarium specimen image of the University of Florida Herbarium Digital Imaging Projects.