COGON GRASS

also called alang-alang, or blady grass (Imperata cylindrica) one of about seven species of perennials constituting the genus Imperata (family Poaceae), native to temperate and tropical regions of the Old World. Cogon grass is a serious weed in cultivated areas of South Africa and Australia. Satintail (I. brevifolia), a tall grass native to western North America, has a thin, silvery flower cluster. Each spikelet bears many long, silky hairs.