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Imperata cylindrica
| Family Name: | Poaceae (Gramineae) |
| Synonyms: | Imperata allang, Imperata arundinacea |
| Common Name: | Lalang, cogon grass, alang-alang, blady grass, speargrass, 白茅 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub, Grass or Grass-like Plant (Tall Grass (Poaceae)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Plant Shape | Grassy |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Southeast Asia, Australia, China, Japan, Philippines, and East Africa |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Tall grass up to 2 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Linear leaves are held erect (180 cm long, 2.5 cm wide) and emerge from the stem bases. |
| Stems | The underground stem, known as a rhizome, is whitish and produces many stems. |
| Flowers | The plume-like inflorescence, known as a branched panicle, is white and hairy (30 cm long, 2 cm wide). Tiny, reduced flowers called florets are arranged in pairs, forming a spikelet. Each spikelet is composed of a sterile floret and a bisexual floret with 2 orange stamens (male parts) and 1 purple stigma (female part). The spikelets are typically arranged in pairs with one about twice as long as the other (0.8 mm long and 1.8 mm long). |
| Cultivation | This species is a significant weed of cultivated lands. The large, underground stem known as a rhizome is difficult to uproot. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Medicinal: In Chinese medicine, the underground stem is used to treat cough, coughing of blood, influenza, blood in the urine, internal bleeding, jaundice and kidney disease. The roots are used as a diuretic, to contain fever, to stop bleeding and to treat acute inflammation of the kidney and cough with phlegm. The flowers are prescribed when there is blood in the sputum, for nose bleeding and lung disease and to quench thirst. The underground stem is used in Indochina to treat itch in children and for piles. In Malaysia, it is used as a purgative as well as to treat diarrhoea and rheumatism. In Indonesia, the plant is used in cases of painful urination and blood in the urine. In the Philippines, it is prescribed for dysentery. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Slope Stabilization |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Drought Tolerant, Moist Soils, Poor Infertile Soils, Heavy Clay Soils, Easy to Grow |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Storage Organ (Rhizome) |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 30016 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 4325 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |