Satin Tail

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Japanese blood grass
• alang-alang
• blady grass
• cogon
• cogongrass
• cotton-wool grass
• imperata
• kunai grass
• kura-kura
• American Grass
• Beady Grass
• Bedding Grass
• Bladey Grass
• Cotton Wool Grass
• Ramsammy Grass
• Riverfarm Grass
• Silver Spike
• Silver-Spike
• Susenke
• lalang grass
• satintail
• spear grass
• sword grass
• thatch grass

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Imperata koenigii
• Imperata laguroides
• Imperata thunbergii
• Imperata arundinacea var. latifolia
• Imperata arundinacea var. glabrescens
• Lagurus cylindricus
• Imperata cylindrica var. europaea
• Saccharum sisca
• Imperata cylindrica var. koenigii
• Imperata cylindrica var. latifolia
• Imperata cylindrica var. major
• Saccharum koenigii
• Imperata cylindrica f. pallida
• Saccharum laguroides
• Imperata cylindrica subsp. koenigii
• Imperata cylindrica subvar. koenigii
• Imperata cylindrica var. africana
• Saccharum thunbergii
• Saccharum cylindricum
• Imperata koenigii var. major
• Saccharum alopecurus
• Imperata latifolia
• Imperata filifolia
• Imperata cylindrica var. parviflora
• Imperata cylindrica var. pedicellata
• Imperata cylindrica var. thunbergii
• Imperata dinteri
• Imperata arundinacea var. europaea
• Imperata arundinacea var. indica
• Imperata arundinacea var. koenigii
• Imperata arundinacea var. pedicellata
• Imperata arundinacea var. thunbergii
• Imperata arundinacea var. africana
• Imperata allang
• Imperata angolensis
• Imperata arundinacea
• Imperata sieberi
• Imperata pedicellata
• Imperata praecoquis
• Imperata robustior

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Poales and the family Poaceae. Its specific taxonomic identification is found within the genus Imperata.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific presence within the region of Southwestern Europe. Its geographical range includes the islands of Baleares and Corse. Furthermore, it can be found across the mainland territory of France. The distribution extends southward to include the country of Portugal. Finally, its occurrence is also documented on the island of Sardegna.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Imperata cylindrica is characterized by its vast adaptability across diverse topographical gradients, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) to high-altitude environments reaching a maximum of 2500 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered around 800 m AMSL. It is widely distributed across various landscapes, most notably functioning as a common weed of cultivation, where it thrives in disturbed soils and agricultural settings. This ability to colonize anthropogenic habitats, combined with its significant altitudinal tolerance, allows it to persist in a wide array of ecological niches.

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

a common weed of cultivation

Life history

The life history of Imperata cylindrica is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. Structurally, it is classified as a geophyte, utilizing underground storage organs to survive unfavorable conditions and facilitate regrowth. Furthermore, its biological classification as a cryptophyte indicates that its perennating buds are protected below the soil surface, a survival strategy that contributes to its resilience and ability to colonize diverse habitats.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Imperata cylindrica is characterized by its growth form as a graminoid herb that is entirely non-woody in structure. This self-supporting plant exhibits an erect shoot orientation and grows in a terrestrial habitat, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches a mean height of approximately 0.93 m, though individual specimens can vary significantly in size, ranging from a minimum height of 0.25 m to a maximum of 1.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.933333333333333 m

Plant height min:

0.25 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Imperata cylindrica is characterized by a highly efficient metabolic framework and specialized morphological adaptations. The plant utilizes a C4 photosynthetic pathway, which allows for enhanced carbon fixation and superior water-use efficiency, particularly in high-temperature and high-light environments. Morphologically, the leaves exhibit significant variability in dimensions; leaf length can range from a minimum of 0.05 cm to a maximum of 100 cm, while the leaf width typically fluctuates between a minimum of 0.2 cm and a maximum of 2 cm, with a mean width of approximately 0.7 cm. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient acquisition strategy, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than atmospheric fixation.

Leaf length max:

100 cm

Leaf length min:

0.05 cm

Leaf width max:

2 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.7 cm

Leaf width min:

0.2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C4

Reproduction

The reproduction of Imperata cylindrica involves both sexual and asexual mechanisms, with asexual reproduction being present to facilitate its spread. The plant produces inflorescences in the form of a panicle, which typically measures between 0.1 m and 0.2 m in length. The flowering period is highly variable and extensive, generally beginning in April and continuing through December. The individual flowers are small, reaching a maximum length of approximately 0.3 cm. As an abiotic pollination syndrome, the plant relies on wind to facilitate fertilization. Following successful pollination, it produces very lightweight seeds with a mean mass of 0.000114333 g, ranging from a minimum of 6e-05 g to a maximum of 2e-04 g. These seeds are dispersed via an anemochorous syndrome, utilizing wind to carry them to new locations.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower length max:

0.3 cm

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Dec

Inflorescence :

panicle

Inflorescence length max:

0.2 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.1 m

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

present

Seed mass max:

2e-04 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000114333 g

Seed mass min:

6e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Imperata cylindrica has 3 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome, root, leaf.

Rhizome

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of natural products
3. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine
3. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Leaf

1. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Chemicals

Imperata cylindrica has 17 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, 5-hydroxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone, 5-hydroxy-2-[2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]chromone, 5-hydroxy-2-styrylchromone, CAMPESTEROL.

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine

5-hydroxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone

1. Journal of natural products

5-hydroxy-2-[2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]chromone

1. Journal of natural products

5-hydroxy-2-styrylchromone

1. Journal of natural products

CAMPESTEROL

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Chromones

1. Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine

Cylindrin

1. European journal of pharmacology

Fatty acids

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Glycosides

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

IRON

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Activities

Imperata cylindrica has 7 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antibacterial, Anticonvulsant, Antiepileptic, Antioxidant.

Analgesic

1. Natural product research

Antibacterial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticonvulsant

1. Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine

Antiepileptic

1. Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine

Antioxidant

1. Natural product research

Antitumor

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Neuroprotective

1. Journal of natural products

Medicinal Uses

Imperata cylindrica has 16 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, Ascaridia galli, Cancer, HepG2 cells, bacterial infections.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations