Imperata cylindrica

(L.) Raeusch. (1797)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Monocots Order: Poales Family: Poaceae Genus: Imperata

cogongrass

Naturalized

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form:

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves:

Flowers:

Fruit:

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

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Synonyms (49)

Arundo epigeios Forssk. ex Steud. (1840)

Calamagrostis lagurus Koeler (1802)

Imperata allang Jungh. (1840)

Imperata angolensis Fritsch (1901)

Imperata arundinacea Cirillo (1792)

Imperata arundinacea var. africana Andersson (1855)

Imperata arundinacea var. europaea Andersson (1855)

Imperata arundinacea var. glabrescens Buse (1854)

Imperata arundinacea var. indica Andersson (1855)

Imperata arundinacea var. koenigii (Retz.) Benth. (1861)

Imperata arundinacea var. latifolia Hook.f. (1896)

Imperata arundinacea var. pedicellata (Steud.) Debeaux (1878)

Imperata arundinacea var. thunbergii (Retz.) Stapf (1898)

Imperata cylindrica f. pallida Honda (1930)

Imperata cylindrica subsp. koenigii (Retz.) Masamura & Yanagih. (1941)

Imperata cylindrica subvar. koenigii (Retz.) T.Durand & Schinz (1894)

Imperata cylindrica var. africana (Andersson) C.E.Hubb. (1944)

Imperata cylindrica var. europaea (Andersson) Asch. & Graebn. (1898)

Imperata cylindrica var. koenigii (Retz.) Benth. ex Pilg. (1904)

Imperata cylindrica var. latifolia (Hook.f.) C.E.Hubb. (1944)

Imperata cylindrica var. major (Nees) C.E.Hubb. (1940)

Imperata cylindrica var. parviflora Batt. & Trab. (1906)

Imperata cylindrica var. pedicellata (Steud.) Debeaux (1878)

Imperata cylindrica var. thunbergii (Retz.) T.Durand & Schinz (1894)

Imperata dinteri Pilg. (1912)

Imperata filifolia Nees ex Steud. (1854)

Imperata koenigii (Retz.) P.Beauv. (1812)

Imperata koenigii var. major Nees (1841)

Imperata laguroides (Pourr.) J.Roux (1958)

Imperata latifolia (Hook.f.) L.Liu (1994)

Imperata pedicellata Steud. (1846)

Imperata praecoquis Honda (1939)

Imperata ramosa Andersson (1855)

Imperata robustior A.Chev. (1949)

Imperata sieberi Opiz (1825)

Imperata sisca P.Beauv. ex Steud. (1841)

Imperata thunbergii (Retz.) Nees (1841)

Lagurus cylindricus L. (1759)

Saccharum alopecurus Nees (1850)

Saccharum cylindricum (L.) Lam. (1785)

Saccharum diandrum J.Koenig ex Retz. (1789)

Saccharum europaeum Pers. (1805)

Saccharum indum Pers. (1805)

Saccharum koenigii Retz. (1789)

Saccharum laguroides Pourr. (1788)

Saccharum negrosense Steud. (1854)

Saccharum sisca Cav. (1794)

Saccharum spicatum Burm. ex Kunth (1833)

Saccharum thunbergii Retz. (1789)

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

O'ahu Potentially naturalizing

Hawai'i Potentially naturalizing

Dispersal Agents

Wind

Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Conservation Status

Hawaii Pacific Weed Risk Assessment Rating:High Risk

HPWRA Score:22

Bibliography

Name Published In: Nomencl. Bot. Pl. Illustr., ed. 3: 10 (1797)

Other References

Faccenda 2022:71 (O† [eradicated, 2007]); Parker et al. 2024:138 (NEWNAT/H); Molly Murphy pers. comm. 2025 (H†, 2024)

Occurrences

SNo.	Scientific Name	Locality	Habitat	Basis of Record	Description	Recorded By	Record Number	Island	Source	Date
1	Imperata cylindrica	Hawaiian Paradise Park, Keaau.	Associates: Metrosideros polymorpha, Arundina graminifolia, Melastoma candidum, Megathyrsus maximus. Growing in three empty lots.	Preserved_Specimen	Naturalized. Tall grass growing up to 6' tall. White, fluffy cylindrical seed heads present only on grass that had been mowed. Leaf blades stick straight up, end in a point and have an off-center white midrib.	Parker, J.	216	Hawaii	BISH	2021-12-27
2	Imperata cylindrica	Kaneohe (UTM 2366266, 624381)	In landscaped area in front of house, escaping into lawn.	Preserved_Specimen	Grass~ 1 ft. tall, red tinged at tips. Sterile specimen.	OED	2007092003	Oahu	BISH	2007-08-20
3	Imperata cylindrica	Hawaiian Paradise Park, Keaau.	Associates: Metrosideros polymorpha, Arundina graminifolia, Melastoma candidum, Megathyrsus maximus. Growing in three empty lots.	Preserved_Specimen	Naturalized. Tall grass growing up to 6' tall. White, fluffy cylindrical seed heads present only on grass that had been mowed. Leaf blades stick straight up, end in a point and have an off-center white midrib.	Parker, J.	216	Hawaii	BISH	2021-12-27

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