Imperata cylindrica
Cogongrass
a perennial member of the Imperata genus in the family Gramineae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Young inflorescence and young shoots - cooked[6][8]. Root - fibrous but pleasant to chew, containing starch and sugar[1][6][8]. Fairly sweet, the taste is sweetest in the wet season in Australia and worst from plants growing in sand[10]. The ash of the plant is used as a salt substitute[6].
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Root
- Product or use
- Salt
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The flowers and the roots are antibacterial, diuretic, febrifuge, sialagogue, styptic and tonic[2][5][7]. The flowers are used in the treatment of haemorrhages, wounds etc[12]. They are decocted and used to treat urinary tract infections, fevers, thirst etc[2][12]. The root is astringent, antifebrile, antivinous, diuretic, emollient, haemostatic, restorative and tonic[12][13]. It is used in the treatment of nose bleeds, haematuria, haematemesis, oedema and jaundice[5]. The root has antibacterial action against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus dysenteriae etc[5]. A decoction of the root is used as an anthelmintic and also to treat digestive disorders such as indigestion, diarrhoea and dysentery[14]. The root bark is febrifuge, restorative and tonic[12]. Extracts of the plant have shown viricidal and anticancer activity[12].
- Product or use
- Antibacterial
- Product or use
- Antivinous
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Cancer
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Emollient
- Product or use
- Febrifuge
- Product or use
- Restorative
- Product or use
- Sialagogue
- Product or use
- Styptic
- Product or use
- Tonic
- Product or use
- Anthelmintic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The leaves are woven to make mats, bags and raincoats[15][17][10]. The inflorescences are valued for stuffing pillows and cushions[14]. The stems are used in thatching roofs[15][17][7][14]. A fibre obtained from the leaves is used in making paper[15][17][3]. Can be planted on sandy soils to prevent erosion[3][14]. The plants form impenetrably dense clumps and when planted close together in drifts make an excellent ground cover[11].
- Product or use
- Paper
- Product or use
- Thatching
- Product or use
- Weaving
- Product or use
- Stuffing
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Soil surface
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.
- Habitat
- Open sandy habitats, usually by a river or the sea shore in Europe[16]. Commonly found on impoverished soils in Australia[10].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 8+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- high wind, maritime exposure, drought
- Wind
- Yes
- Maritime
- Yes
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - surface sow in spring in a greenhouse. The seed germinates quickly, prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring as the plant comes into growth. Division is very easy and can be carried out at almost any time in the year, though winter divisions are best potted up in the greenhouse and planted out in late spring[K].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in ordinary garden soil in sun or partial shade[4][9]. This species is only hardy in the southern part of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -15°c when dormant[9], though the young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts. The var. I. cylindrica major. (Nees.)C.E.Hubb. is used medicinally in China[5] and as a wild food in Australia[10]. This species is quite closely related to sugar cane, it has been interbred experimentally with that species in India[10]. Plants grow away vigorously after a fire, often spreading freely to infest the burnt areas[1][10].
References
Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-00-634436-4
? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X
Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria.
Grounds. R. Ornamental Grasses. Christopher Helm 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-7470-1219-9
Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre
Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9
Low. T. Wild Food Plants of Australia. Angus and Robertson. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-207-14383-8
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00
Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202