Cogongrass - Invasive Weed

University of Georgia Thomas County Ag Agent and Warnell School of Forestry specialist discuss cogongrass.
Visit www.thomascountyextension.com or www.cogongrass.org for more information.
Key Identification Features of Cogongrass
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Flower/Seed head

Cylindrical in shape
2-8 inches in length (total flower or seed head)
Silvery white in color
Light fluffy dandelion-like seeds
Blooms from late March to mid June (flower timing depends somewhat on local climate)
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Leaves

Blades up to 6 feet long
About 1 inch wide
Whitish, prominent midrib, that is often off center
Margins finely serrate
Some leaves are very erect, but some may droop or lie flat
Often light yellowish-green in color
Could have a reddish cast in fall/winter or brown after frost or freeze
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Plant Base

No apparent stem
Leaves appear to arise directly from or close to the ground
Overlapping sheaths give a rounded appearance to the plant base
All vegetation doesn't arise from one dense clump, instead the plants are more spread out
Light-green to yellowish in color, or could be reddish
Often a lot of thatch around base
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Leaf collar/Ligule

Ligule is a thin-fringed membrane
Leaf sheaths overlapping, giving the plant a round appearance
Hairy (the ligule is the most hairy part of the plant, the plant base may also be somewhat hairy)
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Rhizome/Roots

Dense mat
Many sharp points
Covered in flaky scales
Bright white under scales
Strongly segmented
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Whole Plant

Densely growing patches
Tall grass (up to six feet, averaging 3-4 feet)
Circular infestations
Plants often turn brown in winter (at least partially, but may depend on local climate)

Invasive Species and Right of Way Training

Time: 8AM til 9AM
Date: Thursday, December 17th, 2009
Location: Thomas County Public Works Meeting Room - 78 Joiner Road - Thomasville, GA 31757
Speaker: Dr. Dave Moorhead, UGA Warnell School of Forestry

Topics: Dr. Moorhead will discuss invasive species (non-native vegetation), concerns of these species, control recommendations, and identification.
Pesticide Credits: 1 Hour in Right of Way, Forestry have been applied for.

Please email R.J. Byrne for more information.

Thanks,
R.J. Byrne
www.thomascountyextension.com

Cogongrass: Invasive grass found in Thomasville and Thomas County

This is a notice to all to be on the look out for Cogongrass on your property. Cogongrass is a very invasive grass that spreads by rhizomes and forms dense, typically circular areas that excludes all other vegetation.
It is very difficult to remove and mowing and burning helps simulate growth of the cogongrass. If you believe you have this weed, please contact your County Extension Agent or your local Forestry Commission Office.



From http://www.invasive.org/ :

Cogongrass is a perennial, colony-forming grass which can grow up to 6 ft. (1.8 m) tall. Leaves have an off-center, whitish midrib and finely serrated margins. Leaves are up to 6 ft. (1.8 m) long, 0.5-0.75 in. (1.3-1.9 cm) wide, stiff, and have a sharp, pointed apex. Rhizomes are whitish, branched, scaly and sharp at the tips. Cogongrass is best identified in the spring by the large fuzzy panicle of flowers and seeds, giving the plant a cottony or silky look. Flower heads are 2-8 in. (5.1-20.3 cm) long, silvery-white and cylindrical. Cogongrass is an extremely aggressive invader with the capability of invading a range of sites. It forms dense, usually circular infestations that exclude all other vegetation. Cogongrass is native to Southeast Asia and was accidently introduced into the southeast United States in packing material in the early 1900s. It was also intentionally introduced for erosion control and livestock forage.

http://www.cogongrass.org/cogongrasspub.pdf

http://www.cogongrass.org/