Appearance
It grows from 0.6 to 3 m tall. The leaves are about 2 cm wide near the base of the plant and narrow to a sharp point at the top; the margins are finely toothed and are embedded with sharp silica crystals. The main vein is a lighter colour than the rest of the leaf and tends to be nearer to one side of the leaf. The upper surface is hairy near the base of the plant while the underside is usually hairless.Cogongrass has an extensive rhizome network, the biomass of which accounts for 60% of the total biomass of the plant. They can penetrate up to 1.2 m deep, but 0.4 m is typical in sandy soil.
Naming
The species is most commonly known in English as "cogongrass", from Spanish ''cogón'', from the Tagalog and Visayan ''kugon''. Other common names in English include ''kunai grass'', ''blady grass'', ''satintail'', ''spear grass'', ''sword grass'', ''thatch grass'', ''alang-alang'', ''lalang grass'', ''cotton wool grass'', and ''kura-kura'' , among other names.
Uses
It is used for thatching the roofs of traditional homes throughout south-east Asia.It is planted extensively for ground cover and soil stabilization near beach areas and other areas subject to erosion. Other uses include paper-making, thatching and weaving into mats and bags. It is used in traditional Chinese medicine.
A number of cultivars have been selected for garden use as ornamental plants, including the red-leaved 'Red Baron', also known as Japanese blood grass.
Young inflorescences and shoots may be eaten cooked, and the roots contain starch and sugars and are therefore easy to chew.
It is used as an ingredient in the skincare brand Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream for its high concentrations of potassium which provides a hydrating effect. Their website also states that indigenous native Australians may have used the plant as a substitute for salt due to its high saline content.promotion?
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