Cogongrass

Scientific name: Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.

Synonyms: Imperata arundinacea, Lagurus cylindricus

Common names: Cogongrass, Cogon grass, Japanese bloodgrass, Red Baron grass

Native To: Southeastern Asia

Date of U.S. Introduction: First arrived accidentally in Louisiana in 1912, and it was introduced intentionally to Florida in the 1930s

Images: Invasive.org and Google

Means of Introduction: Used as packing material for imported goods, although it was also introduced intentionally as forage and for erosion control

Impact: Forms dense stands that crowd out native species

Current U.S. Distribution:

• National Agricultural Pest Information System - Pest Tracker - Reported Status
• PLANTS Database map (see complete PLANTS Profile for county distribution and native status)
• Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System (county distribution for Southeastern States)

Federally Regulated: Federal Noxious Weed (USDA, APHIS - Noxious Weeds Program)

Management Plans: Plants / Cogongrass

Selected Internet Resources:

• Federal Government
• State Government
• University/Academic
• International
• Organizations

Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv.
Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
Taxonomy

Imperata cylindrica - Federal Noxious Weed Disseminules of the U.S.
USDA. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Habitat; Distribution

Cogongrass - Domestic Programs Pest Evaluation
USDA. APHIS. Plant Protection and Quarantine.
Identification/Description; Distribution; Controls; Legal Aspects

Imperata cylindrica - Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)
USDA. ARS. National Genetic Resources Program.
Taxonomy; Legal Aspects

Imperata cylindrica Article Citation Search - AGRICOLA Database
USDA. National Agricultural Library.
Research; Special Note: NAL Catalog Search (resources)

Cogon Grass - Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States
USDA. Forest Service.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Distribution; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Controls

Cogongrass - Weed of the Week (Jan 19, 2006; PDF | 225 KB)
USDA. FS. Northeastern Area. Forest Health Protection.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Imperata brasiliensis, I. cylindrica - Fire Effects Information System (FEIS)
USDA. FS. Rocky Mountain Research Station. Fire Sciences Laboratory.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls; Legal Aspects; Special Note: References

Cogongrass - Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests: A Field Guide for Identification and Control
USDA. FS. Southern Research Station.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Life Cycle; Distribution; Controls

Invasive Species Control: Cogongrass (PDF | 213 KB)
USDA. Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Habitat; Controls

Plant Profile for Imperata cylindrica - PLANTS Database
USDA. NRCS. National Plant Data Center.
Taxonomy; Photographs; Distribution; Legal Aspects

Cogongrass Alert
DOI. National Wetlands Research Center. Coastal Prairie Research Program.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Controls

Imperata cylindrica - Indian River Lagoon (Florida) Species Inventory
Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion

Cogongrass
Alabama Forestry Commission.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Controls

Beware of Cogon Grass
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Division of Forestry.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Controls; Legal Aspects

Weed Alert: Cogon Grass (PDF | 219 KB)
Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Bureau of Invasive Plant Management.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Impacts

Cogongrass Eradication Strategies (PDF | 92 KB)
Georgia Forestry Commission.
Controls

Biology, Ecology, and Control of Cogongrass (PDF | 833 KB)
Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce. Bureau of Plant Industry.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Distribution; Controls

Cogongrass (PDF | 682 KB)
South Carolina Forestry Commission.
Identification/Description; Photographs

Stop Cogongrass Hitchhikers (PDF | 273 KB)
Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Dispersion; Controls

Wanted Dead not Alive: Cogongrass
Auburn University.
Identification/Description; Impacts; Habitat; Controls

Imperata cylindrica - Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas (PDF | 79 KB)
University of Florida.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Distribution; Dispersion

Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv.) Biology, Ecology and Management in Florida
University of Florida. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Identification/Description; Introduction History; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Cogongrass
University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Distribution; Controls

Invasive Species: Cogongrass
Mississippi State University. GeoResources Institute.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Dispersion; Distribution; Controls

Cogongrass - South Carolina's Worst Invasive Plant Pest Species (PDF | 340 KB)
Clemson University Extension.
Photographs; Impacts

Imperata cylindrica (grass) - ISSG Global Invasive Species Database
World Conservation Union. Invasive Species Specialist Group.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Cogongrass in Alabama (PDF | 165 KB)
Alabama Invasive Plant Council.
Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution; Controls

Cogongrass
Guide to Invasive Plants of the Galveston Bay Area.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Distribution; Controls

Cogongrass
Invasive.org.
Photographs

Imperata cylindrica, Imperata sp. (Cogon Grass)
Nature Conservancy. Global Invasive Species Initiative.
Photographs; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Imperata cylindrica
Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Cogon Grass
Plant Conservation Alliance. Alien Plant Working Group.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls