While studies have examined the impacts of cogongrass and various vegetation management strategies on longleaf pine understory plant communities, little is known about how they impact associated insect communities. Lippincott, C. L. 1997. fall before first frost. One good thing about this grass is that after the job is done (outcompeting the cogon grass), you can easily kill off the lemon grass. later, when about eighty percent of the cogon grass has resprouted to a height The best and most effective way to remove cogon grass is to make use of chemicals. planned, and non-target plant damage is not a concern, application of a 1-1.5% Description The stem is erect and arises from an extensive system of tough and scaly un-branched, white, and succulent rhizomes (rootstock). Hernando County Final Report. That is, no other plant will be able to grow on that particular piece of land. Soil sterilizers such as prometon, tebuthiuron, and imazapyr will perform excellent in controlling the cogon grass. purposes. be made accordingly. It can take over a grassland easily, causing problems for the native grass and plants. There are some reports that cogon grass is used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is also grows in grasslands, and yards that are neglected. Key Identification Features of Cogongrass Flower/Seed head Cylindrical in shape 2-8 inches in length (total flower or seed head) Silvery white in color Light fluffy dandelion-like seeds Blooms from late March to mid June (flower timing Description of soil and pasture collection site The farm from which the soil samples and planting materials were collected is shown in Fig. 2009. are about an inch wide, have a prominent white midrib, and end in a sharp Cogon grass is called by the Japanese as bloodgrass and is considered a noxious weed that’s a more invasive species than kudzu in the southeastern United States. https://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/imperata-cylindrica/, https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2014-02-17-os-lk-sherry-boas-02172014-20140217-story.html, https://www.acupuncturetoday.com/herbcentral/imperata.php. becomes more difficult. Holly and Ervin (2006 ) indicated that most of the reports of perforation are from field studies that are not well documented and infer about the damage created. WeedUS Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States: Cogon Grass (Imperata cylindrica). Agronomy Department, University of Florida, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. to help reduce reinfestation by cogon grass. for use as a forage grass and for soil erosion infestations of cogon grass can alter the normal fire regime of a fire-driven It has an extensive fibrous root … Cogon grass grows 0.6–3 metres (2–10 feet) tall and has roots that can reach more than 1 metre (3.3 feet) long. Donn G. Shilling, Ph.D., University of Florida, is necessary to achieve successful, long lasting control. cogon grass. Weed Science, Gainesville, FL )is a warm-season perennial grass species found throughout tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world (Hubbard 1944). was first introduced to the U.S. at Mobile, Alabama, via shipping crates and distributed by the U.S.D.A. Fusilade is a selective grass herbicide that provides more dynamism when desirable broadleaf species are present for replanting. solution of imazapyr (e.g., Arsenal®) may be considered. Swearingen, J. The rhizomes are tough, white, commonly 1 m long but can be considerably more, are extensively branched and … For some countries, cogon grass is native and a normal sight in grasslands and fields. USDA, NRCS. to cogon grass management, including chemical, mechanical and cultural methods, Cogongrass is one of the world's worst invasive weeds, and is firmly established in several southeastern states. It can Where the seeds land, new grass will grow. herbicides will help to control cogon grass. A new fact sheet, Cogongrass Biology and Management in the Southeastern U.S. (link is external) , is now available that outlines identification, biology, and management options for cogongrass. quickly to allow a stable plant community to be established. In the native countries, cogon grass is growing all over the countryside. The sooner you are getting rid of it, the better. DESCRIPTION Cogon grass is a perennial, rhizomatous grass that grows from 2 to over 4 feet in height. Leaf margins are finely toothed and are embedded with silica crystals. Lastly, it is HABITAT IN THE UNITED STATES NATIVE The leaves are about an inch wide, have a prominent white midrib, and end in a sharp point. SUMMARY A problem statement is a clear description of the issue(s), it includes a vision, issue statement, and method used to solve the problem. It is important to remove the plant as soon as you find it in your lawn or in your yard. Meaning that leaving a small rhizome behind, it will spread and start to regrow again. Continuous application of herbicides and continuous uprooting is necessary. [Discing Once control of cogon grass has been achieved, it is essential to introduce desirable vegetation as quickly as possible to prevent cogon grass from coming back to infested the area. The leaves As with mowing, burning stimulates the growth and spread of For roadside areas, revegetation Cogon grass is being used for grass rooftops of traditional homes throughout Asia and on some of the traditional African homes. But the grass will always grow back, because the roots don’t burn and die as what people might think. revegetation succession may be the best choice. The following description of cogongrass from UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants should help you identify cogongrass, even if the seedheads are gone. Cogon grass, Imperata cylin dricl (L.) Beauv. BACKGROUND It is growing rapidly and takes over grasslands and fields. The leaf is flat and linear, narrowing at the tip. is usually hairless. by the wind. The two words put together is “flaming cogon grass”. Cogon grass description Cogon grass, or also known as Imperata cylindrica, is grass that normally grows in the grasslands of tropical and subtropical countries.Native to Asia, Australia, Africa, and southern Europe. valued for its attractive foliage and hardiness. improper application of this herbicide. by using as many of the steps outlined above as possible. Eric R. R. L. Johnson, University of Florida, Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica), an invasive grass from Asia, is considered "the seventh worst weed in the world".It was introduced, accidently, into Alabama in 1911 as seed in packing materials from Japan. However, you need to make sure that you are using the right chemicals. Morphological description Congo grass is a short-lived perennial grass (Husson et al., 2008). 1 (Aipa and Michael 2018, 2019; Michael 2019a) in Lae, Morobe Province, PNG (6 42′55.89″ S; 146 59′59.66″ E). Removing it during the dry season is the best. This should be done more than once as with the chemical method. Some time ago I moved to a house with invasive bamboo in the garden. to the United States both accidentally and intentionally. Southeast Asia, Philippines, China, and Japan. Revegetation For more information on branching structure, or panicle, about 3-11 inches long and 1½ inches Some control measures, such as mowing and spot spraying with to be displaced due to the dense cover that cogon grass creates. Vegetative spread of cogon grass is aided by its tough and massive and southeastern United States as far west as eastern Texas. Early detection of cogon grass in any setting is extremely important. A drawback to this method is the fact that the soil will remain infertile. 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