Imperata is a small but widespread genus of tropical and subtropical grasses, commonly known as satintails.
Satintail grass species are perennial rhizomatous herbs with solid, erect stems and silky inflorescences. The best known species is Imperata cylindrica, which is recognized as a devastating noxious weed in many places and cultivated as an ornamental plant in others.
The genus is named after Ferrante Imperato, a Renaissance apothecary who lived in Naples in the late-16th and early-17th centuries. His collection included a herbarium.
Species
As of November 2022, Plants of the World Online accepted the following species:
Imperata brasiliensis - South + Central America, West Indies, southern Mexico
Imperata brevifolia - southwestern US (CA AZ NV UT NM TX)
Imperata cheesemanii - Kermadec Islands (part of New Zealand)
Imperata condensata - Argentina, Chile
Imperata conferta - plumegrass, kunay grass - Southeast Asia, Papuasia, Micronesia
Imperata contracta - guayanilla - South + Central America, West Indies, southern Mexico
Imperata cylindrica - bladygrass, cogongrass, speargrass, silver-spike - Africa, southern Europe, southwestern Asia; introduced in central and eastern Asia, North America, various islands
Imperata flavida - Hainan Province in China
Imperata minutiflora - Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina
Imperata parodii - southern Chile
Imperata tenuis - Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Corrientes Province of Argentina
Various species have been relocated to other genera, such as Cinna, Lagurus, Miscanthus Saccharum, and Tripidium:
