Imperata cylindrica
| Imperata cylindrica | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 4' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Late Summer-Early Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Imperata cylindrica (common name: cogongrass)
Propagation: 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: Succeeds in ordinary garden soil in sun or partial shade[1][2].
This species is only hardy in the southern part of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -15°c when dormant[2], 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[3] and as a wild food in Australia[4].
This species is quite closely related to sugar cane, it has been interbred experimentally with that species in India[4].
Plants grow away vigorously after a fire, often spreading freely to infest the burnt areas[5][4].
Range: E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.
Habitat: Open sandy habitats, usually by a river or the sea shore in Europe[6]. Commonly found on impoverished soils in Australia[4].
Edibility: Young inflorescence and young shoots - cooked[7][8].
Root - fibrous but pleasant to chew, containing starch and sugar[5][7][8]. Fairly sweet, the taste is sweetest in the wet season in Australia and worst from plants growing in sand[4].
The ash of the plant is used as a salt substitute[7].
Medicinal: The flowers and the roots are antibacterial, diuretic, febrifuge, sialagogue, styptic and tonic[9][3][10].
The flowers are used in the treatment of haemorrhages, wounds etc[11]. They are decocted and used to treat urinary tract infections, fevers, thirst etc[9][11].
The root is astringent, antifebrile, antivinous, diuretic, emollient, haemostatic, restorative and tonic[11][12]. It is used in the treatment of nose bleeds, haematuria, haematemesis, oedema and jaundice[3]. The root has antibacterial action against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus dysenteriae etc[3]. A decoction of the root is used as an anthelmintic and also to treat digestive disorders such as indigestion, diarrhoea and dysentery[13].
The root bark is febrifuge, restorative and tonic[11].
Extracts of the plant have shown viricidal and anticancer activity[11].
Usage: The leaves are woven to make mats, bags and raincoats[14][15][4].
The inflorescences are valued for stuffing pillows and cushions[13].
The stems are used in thatching roofs[14][15][10][13].
A fibre obtained from the leaves is used in making paper[14][15][16].
Can be planted on sandy soils to prevent erosion[16][13]. The plants form impenetrably dense clumps and when planted close together in drifts make an excellent ground cover[17].
Pollinators: Wind
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
Seed Ripens: Early Fall-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: I. arundinacea. Miscanthus arundinacea. Saccharum cylindricum.
Links
References
- ↑ Grounds, Roger. Ornamental Grasses. Christopher Helm, 1989.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Yeung, Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, 1985.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Low, Tim. Wild Food Plants of Australia. Angus and Robertson, 1989.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Cribb, Alan and Joan Cribb. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana, 1976.
- ↑ Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Read, Bernard. Famine Foods Listed in the Chiu Huang Pen Ts'ao. Taipei Southern Materials Centre, 1977.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Revolutionary Health Committee of Hunan Province. A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Stuart, George. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei Southern Materials Centre.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Manandhar, Narayan. Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press, 2002.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Ewart, Alfred. Recording Census of the Victorian Flora. 1923.
- ↑ Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.