Imperata cylindrica

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Distribution Map: Based on vouchered plant specimens only. View county names by placing the mouse cursor over a particular county.

Species Distribution Map
Family:POACEAE
Species:Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeusch.
Common Name:Cogon Grass; Cotton Grass; Satin tail
Habitat:**
Associated Ecological Communities:**
Growth Habit:Herb
Duration:Perennial
Category:Vascular
USDA Symbol:IMCY
Plant Notes:Cogon Grass is an introduced rhizomatous perennial in the Grass family (Poaceae). It is native to large areas of Asia, Australia, and Africa, and has been widely introduced in tropical and subtropical areas throughout the world. It can be found throughout Alabama, with the largest populations in the southwest portions of the state. Cogon Grass grows on roadsides, in pine forests and savannas, in field margins, in pastures and prairies, on glades, and in lawns. It is a perennial warm season grass forming extensive colonies from rhizomes. The plants grow from 1-6 feet in height, with no apparent above ground stem (the leaves arising directly from the base). The leaves are linear, 1-5 feet in length, 0.5-1 inch in width, yellowish green in color, with minutely serrate margins. The midrib is white in color and often off-center. The collar region (junction of the leaf blade and sheath) is pubescent. Flowers are produced in dense erect cylindrical panicles. The panicles are purplish-silver in flower, becoming white as the seed mature. The seed is an ovate brown grain with long white hairs. Cogon Grass was used as a packing material for shipments of china and produce from Asia and became established around the port of Mobile in the early 1900’s. It was also planted as a potential forage grass and for erosion control in several southeastern states. It is considered one of the world's 10 worst weeds, and is listed as a noxious weed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Cogon Grass not only forms dense stands that eliminate native vegetation, but is also highly flammable, increasing the frequency and intensity of fires.—A. Diamond.
Taxonomic Notes:**
Status:Not Native
References:**
Specimen: View specimen details in the Alabama Herbarium Consortium Specimen Database

** Not applicable or data not available.

Classification

FamilyPOACEAE - Grass family
Genus Imperata
Species Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeusch. - Cogon Grass; Cotton Grass; Satin tail

Citation

Citation Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Raeuschel, Nomencl. Bot. (ed. 3) 3: 10. 1797.
Basionym: Lagurus cylindricus L. 1759.
Type: ITALY: Without data (lectotype: LINN 96.2). Lectotypified by Clayton & Renvoize, in Polhill, Fl. Trop. E. Afr., Gramineae 3: 700. 1982.

** Not applicable or data not available.

Synonyms

SynonymFull CitationBasionymType
Calamagrostis lagurus Calamagrostis lagurus Koeler, Descr. Gram. 112. 1802, nom. illegit.Lagurus cylindricus Linnaeus 1759. 
Imperata allang Imperata allang Junghuhn, in Hoeven & de Vriese, Tijdschr. Naturrl. Gesch. Physiol. 7: 295. 1840. INDONESIA: Java:
Imperata angolensis Imperata angolensis Fritsch, Bull. Herb. Boissier, ser. 2. 1: 1096. 1901. ANGOLA: Huila, s.d., Dekindt s.n. (holotype: W).
Imperata arundinacea Imperata arundinacea Cirillo, Pl. Rar. Neapol. 2: 26. 1792, nom. illegit.Lagurus cylindricus Linnaeus 1759.  
Imperata arundinacea var. africana Imperata arundinacea Cirillo, var. africana Andersson, Oefvers. Foerh. Kongl. Svenska Vetensk.-Akad. 12: 159. 1855.Saccharum thunbergii Retzius 1789. 
Imperata arundinacea var. europea Imperata arundinacea Cirillo, var. europea Andersson, Oefvers. Foerh. Kongl. Svenska Vetensk.-Akad. 12: 160. 1855.  
Imperata arundinacea var. genuina Imperata arundinacea Cirillo, var. genuina Hackel, in Alph. de Candolle, Monogr. Phan. 6: 93. 1889, nom. inadmiss.Imperata arundinacea Cirillo 1792, nom. illegit.; Lagurus cylindricus Linnaeus 1759. 
Imperata arundinacea var. glabrescens Imperata arundinacea Cirillo, var. glabrescens Büse, in Miquel, Pl. Jungh. 366. 1854. INDONESIA: Sumatra: Near Pertibi, s.d., Horner s.n. (holotype: L).
Imperata arundinacea var. indica Imperata arundinacea Cirillo, var. indica Andersson, Oefvers. Foerh. Kongl. Svenska Vetensk.-Akad. 12: 160. 1855.  
Imperata arundinacea var. koenigii Imperata arundinacea Cirillo, var. koenigii (Retzius) Bentham, Fl. Hongk. 419. 1861.Saccharum koenigii Retzius 1789. 
Imperata arundinacea var. pedicellata Imperata arundinacea Cirillo, var. pedicellata (Steudel) Debeaux, Rech. Fl. Pyren.-Orient. 323. 1878.Imperata pedicellata Steudel 1846. 
Imperata arundinacea var. thunbergii Imperata arundinacea Cirillo, var. thunbergii (Retzius) Stapf, in Harvey, Fl. Cap. 7: 320. 1898, nom. illegit.Imperata arundinacea Cirillo, var. africana Andersson 1855; Saccharum thunbergii Retzius 1789. 
Imperata cylindrica var. europea Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Palisot de Beauvois, var. europea (Andersson) Ascherson & Graebner, Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 1: 412. 1898.Imperata arundinacea Cirillo, var. europea Andersson 1855. 
Imperata cylindrica var. major Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Raeuschel, var. major (Nees von Esenbeck) C. E. Hubbard, in C. E. Hubbard & Vaughan, Grasses Mauritius 96. 1940.Imperata koenigii (Retzius) Palisot de Beauvois, var. major Nees von Esenbeck 1841. 
Imperata cylindrica var. africana Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Palisot de Beauvois, var. africana (Andersson) C. E. Hubbard, Joint Publ. Imp. Agric. Bur. 7: 10. 1944.Imperata arundinacea Cirillo, var. africana Andersson 1855; Saccharum thunbergii Retzius 1789. 
Imperata cylindrica var. genuina Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Palisot de Beauvois, var. genuina A. Camus, Rev. Bot. Appl. Agric. Colon. 5: 110. 1925, nom. inadmiss.Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Palisot de Beauvois 1812; Lagurus cylindricus Linnaeus 1759. 
Imperata cylindrica var. glabrescens Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Palisot de Beauvois, var. glabrescens (Büse) Ohwi, Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 11: 147. 1942.Imperata arundinacea Cirillo, var. glabrescens Büse 1854. 
Imperata cylindrica var. koenigii Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Raeuschel, var. koenigii (Retzius) Bentham ex Pilger, in Perkins, Fragm. Fl. Philipp. 137. 1904.Saccharum koenigii Retzius 1789. 
Imperata cylindrica var. latifolia Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Palisot de Beauvois, var. latifolia (Hooker f.) C. E. Hubbard, Joint Publ. Imp. Agric. Bur. 7: 10. 1944.Imperata arundinacea Cirillo, var. latifolia Hooker f. 1896. 
Imperata cylindrica var. thunbergii Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Palisot de Beauvois, var. thunbergii (Retzius) T. Durand & Schinz, Consp. Fl. Afric. 5: 693. 1894, nom. illegit.Imperata arundinacea Cirillo, var. africana Andersson 1855; Saccharum thunbergii Retzius 1789. 
Imperata dinteri Imperata dinteri Pilger, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 48: 342. 1912. SOUTH-WEST AFRICA: Namibia: Okokongominga, s.d., Dinter 1767 (holotype: B).
Imperata koenigii Imperata koenigii (Retzius) Palisot de Beauvois, Ess. Agrostogr. 8, 165, 177. 1812.Saccharum koenigii Retzius 1789. 
Imperata koenigii var. major Imperata koenigii (Retzius) Palisot de Beauvois, var. major Nees von Esenbeck, Fl. Afr. Austral. Ill. 90. 1841. SOUTH AFRICA: Umgazana (Omgaziana) to Mzimvubu (Omsamwubo), s.d., Drege s.n. (holotype: ?).
Imperata pedicellata Imperata pedicellata Steudel, Flora 29: 22. 1846. JAPAN
Imperata sieberi Imperata sieberi Opiz, Naturalientausch 10: 190. 1825.  
Imperata thunbergii Imperata thunbergii (Retzius) Roemer & Schultes, Syst. Veg. 2: 289. 1817.Saccharum thunbergii Retzius 1789. 
Lagurus cylindricus Lagurus cylindricus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 10. 878. 1759. ITALY: Without data (lectotype: LINN 96.2). Lectotypified by Clayton & Renvoize, in Polhill, Fl. Trop. E. Afr., Gramineae 3: 700. 1982.
Saccharum cylindricum Saccharum cylindricum (Linnaeus) Lamarck, Encycl. 1: 594. 1785.Lagurus cylindricus Linnaeus 1759. 
Saccharum europaeum Saccharum europaeum Persoon, Syn. Pl. 1: 103. 1805, nom. alt.Saccharum cylindricum (Linnaeus) Lamarck 1785; Lagurus cylindricus Linnaeus 1759. 
Saccharum koenigii Saccharum koenigii Retzius, Observ. Bot. 5: 16. 1788 ("1789"). JAPAN: Without data, Koenig s.n. (holotype: LD).
Saccharum laguroides Saccharum laguroides Pourret, Hist. & Mém. Acad. Roy. Sci. Toulouse 3: 326. 1788, nom. illegit.Lagurus cylindricus Linnaeus 1759. 
Saccharum sisca Saccharum sisca Cavanilles, Icones 3: 47, t. 292. 1795. SPAIN: Valencia:
Saccharum thunbergii Saccharum thunbergii Retzius, Observ. Bot. 5: 17. 1788 ("1789"). East Indies, without data, Thunberg s.n. (holotype: LD).
Imperata brasiliensis    
Imperata cylindrica var. mexicana    

Specimens and Distribution

This species has been reported in the following counties by the herbaria listed. An overview of the individual specimens are provided in the table that follows. Click on the accession number to view details; click on column headers to sort; choose a county or herbaria to filter the specimen data.

Counties included on distribution map: Autauga, Baldwin, Bibb, Bullock, Butler, Calhoun, Choctaw, Cleburne, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Dallas, Fayette, Geneva, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Mobile, Montgomery, Pike, Sumter, Tuscaloosa, Washington

Counties represented by specimen data listed below:

Herbaria represented by specimen data listed below: ALNHS, AUA, JSU, NY, SAMF, TROY, UNA, UWAL

Range of years during which specimens were collected: 1965 - 2019

Barcode / Accession No. County Coll. Date Collector &
Collection No.		 Herbarium &
Herbarium Name Used		 Image
UWAL0009006 Sumter 06 May 2008 Keener, Brian R.
4615		 UWAL
Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv.
AUA000017658 Butler 20 May 1994 Diamond, Alvin R.
9175		 AUA
Imperata Cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
TROY000043758 Geneva 07 Apr 2016 Diamond, Alvin R.
27288		 TROY
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
UWAL0010330 Marengo 01 May 2012 England, J. Kevin
3421		 UWAL
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
UWAL0009005 Baldwin 11 May 2005 Hansen, Curtis J.
1761		 UWAL
Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv.
AUA000017661 Conecuh 26 Apr 1997 Diamond, Alvin R.
10991		 AUA
Imperata Cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
JSU144478 Calhoun 24 Jun 1985 Johnson, Jean
007		 JSU
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
UWAL0011785 Sumter 21 May 2013 Keener, Brian R.
7828		 UWAL
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
TROY000043718 Montgomery 01 May 2016 Diamond, Alvin R.
27359		 TROY
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
AUA000017663 Conecuh 19 Apr 2003 Jacks, C.W.
30		 AUA
Imperata Cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
TROY000037374 Fayette 30 Apr 2011 Younghance, Steven L.
331		 TROY
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
UWAL0056879 Bibb 17 May 2019 Keener, Brian R.
11167		 UWAL
Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauvois
AUA000017655 Choctaw 4 May 1995 Crouch, Virginia E.
1396		 AUA
Imperata Brasiliensis Trin.
TROY000012267 Coffee 12 Apr 2000 Martin, Brian H.
565		 TROY
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
AUA000017662 Conecuh 5 Apr 1997 Diamond, Alvin R.
10962		 AUA
Imperata Cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
UWAL0033831 Sumter 11 May 2015 Keener, Brian R.
8827		 UWAL
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
AUA000037424 Macon 23 Sep 2018 Birkhead, Roger
 AUA
Imperata Cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
ALNHS00000470 Dallas 16 Apr 2010 Barger, T. Wayne
OC-37		 ALNHS
Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv.
AUA000017660 Butler 1 May 2004 Diamond, Alvin R.
14367		 AUA
Imperata Cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
NYv-034-00348297 Baldwin 19 Apr 1970 Robert Kral
38860		 NY
Imperata brasiliensis Trin.
AUA000017665 Covington 22 Mar 1997 Diamond, Alvin R.
10911		 AUA
Imperata Cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
UWAL0013012 Fayette 01 May 2012 Younghance, Steve L.
339		 UWAL
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
JSU102031 Bibb 07 Jun 1999 Brodeur, Kristin R.
1974		 JSU
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
UWAL0018635 Baldwin 02 May 1987 Kral, Robert
73859		 UWAL
Imperata brasiliensis Trin.
UNA00058218 Baldwin 26 May 2002 Haynes, Robert R.
10267		 UNA
Imperata cylindrica (L.) Palisot
TROY000012265 Baldwin 26 May 2002 Haynes, Robert R.
10267		 TROY
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
UWAL0053279 Calhoun 13 May 2019 Spaulding, Daniel D.
15837		 UWAL
Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv.
TROY000028134 Sumter 06 May 2008 Keener, Brian R.
4615		 TROY
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
AUA000017664 Covington 4 Jun 1993 Diamond, Alvin R.
8653		 AUA
Imperata Cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
AUA000017674 Pike 10 May 1997 Diamond, Alvin R.
11009		 AUA
Imperata Cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
NYv-034-00348298 Mobile 28 Mar 1975 Roy Dale Thomas
43100		 NY
Imperata brasiliensis Trin.
UWAL0011054 Bullock 26 Apr 2012 Dykes, Bailee
616		 UWAL
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
UNA00059405 Cleburne 02 Jun 2002 Spaulding, Daniel D.
11349		 UNA
Imperata cylindrica (L.) Palisot
SAMF0006830 Mobile 13 Apr 2019 Green, Molly
19		 SAMF
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
UNA00017099 Mobile 27 Mar 1982 Haynes, Robert R.
8505a		 UNA
Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeusch.
UWAL0036950 Fayette 18 May 2017 England, J. Kevin
7784		 UWAL
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Palisot de Beauvois
TROY000049232 Autauga 11 May 2018 Parker, Matthew R.
1698		 TROY
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
UNA00021557 Mobile 10 Apr 1965 Deramus, Rebecca
D362		 UNA
Imperata brasiliensis Trin.
TROY000012268 Dale 19 May 2000 Pennington, Tiffany
672		 TROY
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
AUA000017670 Crenshaw 4 Jun 1993 Diamond, Alvin R.
8654		 AUA
Imperata Cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
AUA000017669 Crenshaw 12 May 1996 Diamond, Alvin R.
10227		 AUA
Imperata Cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
TROY000043940 Pike 03 May 2016 Diamond, Alvin R.
27360		 TROY
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
UWAL0032974 Geneva 07 Apr 2016 Diamond, Alvin R.
27288		 UWAL
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
SAMF0007958 Washington 03 May 2007 Kral, R.
97962		 SAMF
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
AUA_ACC_65489 Baldwin 11 May 2005 Hansen, Curtis J.
1761		 AUA
Imperata Cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
TROY000043766 Geneva 10 Dec 2015 Diamond, Alvin R.
27115		 TROY
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
UWAL0051722 Bullock 01 Jul 2020 Horne, Howard E.
4952		 UWAL
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
AUA000025075 Macon 17 Sep 2006 Birkhead, Roger
SN		 AUA
Imperata Cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
TROY000037384 Fayette 01 May 2012 Younghance, Steven L.
339		 TROY
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
UNA00021556 Baldwin 19 Apr 1970 Kral, Robert
388[??]		 UNA
Imperata brasiliensis Trin.
JSU102032 Mobile 31 May 1998 Spaulding, Daniel D.
10270		 JSU
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
AUA000025996 Mobile 31 May 1998 Spaulding, Daniel D.
10270		 AUA
Imperata Cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
ALNHS00000220 Mobile 31 May 1998 Spaulding, Daniel D.
10270		 ALNHS
Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv.
AUA000017673 Mobile 19 May 1956 Davis, Donald E.
 AUA
Imperata Cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
TROY000027394 Cleburne 02 Jun 2002 Spaulding, Daniel D.
11349		 TROY
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
AUA000017675 Pike 9 Apr 1994 Diamond, Alvin R.
9053		 AUA
Imperata Cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
AUA000017659 Butler 25 May 1996 Diamond, Alvin R.
10265		 AUA
Imperata Cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
UWAL0043219 Baldwin 22 Apr 2002 Larsen, Harry S.
1026		 UWAL
Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv.
AUA000025682 Covington 31 May 1993 Oberholster, Suzanne
417		 AUA
Imperata Cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
TROY000012266 Butler 01 May 2004 Diamond, Alvin R.
14367		 TROY
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
UWAL0033080 Montgomery 01 May 2016 Diamond, Alvin R.
27359		 UWAL
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
AUA000017672 Dale 21 May 1997 Diamond, Alvin R.
11010		 AUA
Imperata Cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
TROY000027395 Tuscaloosa 27 Apr 2003 Spaulding, Daniel D.
11780		 TROY
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
UWAL0015734 Calhoun 16 May 2013 Spaulding, Daniel D.
13732		 UWAL
Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv.
UWAL0032968 Geneva 10 Dec 2015 Diamond, Alvin R.
27115		 UWAL
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
AUA000017668 Crenshaw 26 May 1996 Diamond, Alvin R.
10269		 AUA
Imperata Cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
JSU102030 Baldwin 19 Apr 1970 Kral, Robert
388__		 JSU
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
UNA00061170 Tuscaloosa 27 Apr 2003 Spaulding, Daniel D.
11780		 UNA
Imperata cylindrica (L.) Palisot
AUA000017676 Pike 15 May 1996 Diamond, Alvin R.
10241		 AUA
Imperata Cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
TROY000046305 Lowndes 01 May 2018 Diamond, Alvin R.
28251		 TROY
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
UWAL0039778 Lowndes 01 May 2018 Diamond, Alvin R.
28251		 UWAL
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
AUA000017666 Covington 22 Mar 1997 Diamond, Alvin R.
10910		 AUA
Imperata Cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
UWAL0013001 Fayette 30 Apr 2011 Younghance, Steve L.
331		 UWAL
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
UWAL0050169 Autauga 11 May 2018 Parker, Matthew R.
1698		 UWAL
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
AUA000017656 Conecuh 27 May 1987 Diamond, Alvin R.
3250		 AUA
Imperata Brasiliensis Trin.
UNA00062952 Butler 01 May 2004 Diamond, Alvin R.
14367		 UNA
Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeusch.
TROY000035093 Bullock 26 Apr 2012 Dykes, Bailee
616		 TROY
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
AUA000017667 Crenshaw 17 May 1998 Diamond, Alvin R.
11252		 AUA
Imperata Cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
TROY000030956 Dale 21 May 1997 Diamond, Alvin R.
11010		 TROY
Imperata cylindrica (Linnaeus) Beauvois
AUA000017671 Crenshaw 29 Jun 1996 Diamond, Alvin R.
10361		 AUA
Imperata Cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
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