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Imperata cylindrica

Authority	(L.) Raeusch.
Family	Liliopsida:Commelinidae:Cyperales:Gramineae
Synonyms	Imperata arundinacea Cyr., Imperata cylindrica var. africana (Anderson) C.E. Hubb., Imperata cylindrica var. major (Nees) C.E. Hubb.
Common names	alang-alang, bach mao, blade grass, blady grass, capim seno, co tranh, co tranh sang, cogon grass, cottonwool grass, gan, gi, gogon, illuk grass, imperata, impérata cylindrique, Japanese blood grass, kogon, kunai, kurukuru, kyet-mei, lalang, ngi, nha ca, paille de dys, paillotte, satintail, sbow, silky grass, silver spike, umthente, ya kha
Editor
Ecocrop code	1252

Notes
BRIEF DESCRIPTION A rhizomatous grass up to 120 cm high with up to 100 cm long, narrow, rigid leaf-blades. Its roots may penetrate to a depth of 60 cm. USES Used for pasture but cannot withstand continuous heavy grazing. Can be grazed rotationally when young and 15-25 cm tall. The rhizomes are eaten by pigs. Can also be used for erosion control. GROWING PERIOD Perennial grass. COMMON NAMES Blady grass, Alang-alang, Lalang, Kunai, Cotton wool grass, Spear grass, Silver spike, Cogon grass, Satintail, Cotranh, Illuk, Yakha, Gi, Sword grass, Paillotte, Alang-alang, Ilalang, Kampengan, Kogon, Gogon, Bulum, Kyet-mei, Sbo'w, Hnhha:z kh'a:, Ya-kha, Co'tranh. FURTHER INF Scientific synonyms: I. arundinacea, I. cylindrica var. major, Lagurus cylindricus. Blady grass has a latitudinal distribution between 45°N and 45°S. It can be found at elevations between sea level and 2000 m in the Himalaya and it is common in subhumid and humid grassland and open woodland. It is quite drought resistant but will not tolerate long periods of flooding. Frequent fires encourage the growth and uniformity of the sward. It has a deeply buried aggressive rhizome, that can penetrate the roots of other plants, causing rot or death. Dry matter yields may be between 2-12 t/ha.
Sources
Grassland Index Skerman P 1990 pp 468-473 [TEMP, RAIN, DRA, TEXT, PH, FER, PHO] Mannetje L 1992 pp 140-142 [USE, LIMIT, TEMP, RAIN, DRA, FER, PH, TEXT, LIG, SAL]