Cynodon hirsutissimus(Litard. & Maire) Caro & E.A.Sánchez
Cynodon iraquensisCaro
Cynodon laeviglumisCaro & E.A.Sánchez
Cynodon linearisWilld.
Cynodon maritimusKunth
Cynodon mucronatusCaro & E.A.Sánchez
Cynodon nitidusCaro & E.A.Sánchez
Cynodon occidentalisWilld. ex Steud. nom. inval.
Cynodon pascuusNees
Cynodon pedicellatusCaro
Cynodon polevansiiStent
Cynodon portoricensisWilld. ex Steud. nom. inval.
Cynodon repensDulac nom. illeg.
Cynodon sarmentosusGray nom. illeg.
Cynodon scabrifoliusCaro
Cynodon stellatusWilld.
Cynodon tenuisTrin.
Cynodon umbellatus(Lam.) Caro
Cynosurus dactylon(L.) Pers.
Cynosurus uniflorusWalter
Dactilon officinaleVill. nom. illeg.
Dactylus officinalisAsch. nom. inval.
Digitaria ambigua(Lapeyr. ex DC.) Mérat
Digitaria dactylon(L.) Scop.
Digitaria glumaepatula(Steud.) Miq.
Digitaria glumipatula(Steud.) Miq.
Digitaria linearis(L.) Pers.
Digitaria linearis(Retz.) Spreng.
Digitaria littoralisSalisb. nom. illeg.
Digitaria maritima(Kunth) Spreng.
Digitaria stoloniferaSchrad. nom. illeg.
Fibichia dactylon(L.) Beck
Fibichia umbellataKoeler nom. illeg.
Milium dactylon(L.) Moench
Panicum ambiguum(DC.) Le Turq.
Panicum dactylonL.
Panicum glumipatulumSteud.
Panicum lineareL.
Paspalum ambiguumDC.
Paspalum dactylon(L.) Lam.
Paspalum umbellatumLam.
Phleum dactylon(L.) Georgi
Syntherisma linearis(L.) Nash
Vilfa linearis(Retz.) P.Beauv.
Vilfa stellata(Willd.) P.Beauv.
Cynodon dactylon, commonly known asBermuda grass or ascouch grass inAustralia andNew Zealand, is agrass found worldwide. It is native toEurope,Africa, Australia, and much ofAsia and has been introduced to the Americas.[2][3] Contrary to its common name,Cynodon dactylon is not native toBermuda but is an abundantinvasive species there. In Bermuda, it has been known ascrabgrass (also a name forDigitaria sanguinalis). Other names includedhoob,dūrvā grass,ethana grass,dubo,dog grass,dog's tooth grass,[4]Bahama grass,devil's grass,couch grass,Indiandoab,arugampul,grama,wiregrass, andscutch grass.
Hybrid species of the grass aretaxonomically known asCynodon dactylon ×transvaalensis. Theseinterspecific hybrids are the result of cross-pollination between different cultivars. Hybridcultivars of the grass are commonly developed by selecting individual plants with desirable traits from seeded orvegetatively propagated stands.[5] These cultivars are typicallytriploids, meaning they contain three sets of chromosomes.[6]
The blades are grey-green in color and short, usually 2–15 cm (0.79–5.91 in) long with rough edges.[7] The erect stems can grow 1–30 cm (0.39–11.81 in) tall. The stems are slightly flattened, often white or green, and occasionally tinged purple in colour.
The seed heads are produced in a cluster of two to six spikes together at the top of the stem, each spike 2–5 cm (0.79–1.97 in) long.[7]
Cynodon dactylon has a deep root system. When grown in penetrable soil under drought conditions, its roots can grow to over 2 metres (6.6 ft) deep, though most of the root mass is less than 60 centimetres (24 in) under the surface. The grass creeps along the ground with itsstolons and roots wherever a node touches the ground, forming a dense mat.C. dactylon reproduces through seeds, stolons, andrhizomes. The grass starts actively growing at temperatures above 15 °C (59 °F) with ideal growth between 24 and 37 °C (75 and 99 °F); in winter or in thedry season, the grass becomesdormant and turns light brown. Optimal development also occurs in areas of full sun exposure, while dense shade, especially near tree bases, generally suppresses it.[citation needed]
Cynodon dactylon is widely cultivated in warm climates all over the world between about 30° S and 30° N latitude, and in regions that receive between 625 and 1,750 mm (24.6 and 68.9 in) of rainfall a year (or less, if irrigation is available). For example, in the United States, it is grown mostly in thesouthern half of the country.
Cultivated Bermuda grass with "tiger striping", caused byRayleigh–Bénard convection during the first frosts of the fall. The frost regions turn brown after several days, and the frost-free regions remain green.[8] The spatial scale of the pattern is ~20 cm.
Hundreds of cultivars have been created specifically for environmental tolerance and stakeholder requirements. New cultivars are released annually.[9][10]
Commonly known as "durva" ordūrvāyugma inIndia, this grass is used in theAyurveda system of medicine.[11] Performing a rite called "the consecration ofRudra (SanskritRudrabhisheka)" described in thePurāṇas while offering durva 11 times bestows long life.[citation needed] In Hinduism, it is considered important in the worship of LordGanesha.[12][13] A clump of 21 shoots of this grass is usually offered duringpuja (worship).[citation needed] It has been a part of Hindu rituals since Vedic times.[citation needed] A unique festival calledDurga Ashtami, dedicated to this grass, is celebrated on the eighth day of the Navratri festival.[14]
Groom tying a dubo garland around the bride's neck in aNepaleseHindu wedding
InNepal, the grass is known as "dubo" and is used by the Hindus. According to Nepalese Hindus, the grass symbolizes long life. The grass is an essential item for theNaga Panchami festival as well as theGaura festival.[16][17][18] In a Nepalese Hindu wedding, a garland made of this grass is worn by both bride and groom.[19]
It has been observed thatCynodon dactylon may be selectively eaten bydogs to swiftly inducevomiting when they have gastrointestinal problems. The effect may be due to irritation caused by bristles on the leaf margin.[11]
Cynodon dactylon (foreground, the background grass is a separate species) at Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden
Bermuda grass is fast-growing and tough, making it a popular choice for sports fields because it will recover quickly when damaged. It is a highly desirable turfgrass in warm temperate climates, particularly in hot and dry regions where it will survive while other grass species cannot. The combination of heat and drought tolerance makes Bermuda grass a frequent choice forgolf courses in thesouthern and southeastern United States andSouth Africa. Bermuda grass is also commonly used for football and baseball fields. It has a relatively coarse-bladed form with numerouscultivars selected for different turf requirements.[citation needed]
Bermuda grass can be a highly aggressiveinvasive species, crowding out most other grasses and invading other habitats, and has become a hard-to-eradicateweed in some areas (it can be controlled somewhat withtriclopyr,mesotrione,fluazifop-p-butyl, andglyphosate).[22][23] This weedy nature leads some gardeners to give it the name ofdevil grass. Bermuda grass is incredibly difficult to control in flower beds, and most herbicides do not work. However, Ornamec, Ornamec 170, Turflon ester (tricyclopyr), and Imazapyr have shown some effectiveness. All of these items are difficult to find in retail stores, as they are primarily marketed to professional landscapers.[24]
Thehybrid varietyTifton 85, like some other grasses (e.g.sorghum), producescyanide under certain conditions,[25] and has been implicated in several livestock deaths.
^Ackerson BJ, Beier RA, Martin DL. Ground level air convection produces frost damage patterns in turfgrass. Int J Biometeorol. 2015;59:1655.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-015-0972-3
^Shi H, Wang Y, Cheng Z, Ye T, Chan Z. Analysis of natural variation in Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) reveals physiological responses underlying drought tolerance. PLoS ONE. 2012;7(12):e53422.
^abcKandwal, Manish K.; Sharma, M. L. (2011). "Cynodon dactylon (L) Pers.: a self-treatment grass for dogs".Current Science.101 (5):619–621.JSTOR24078622.
^Chavan, T. B., Masal, V. P., & Ghalme, R. L. STUDY ON MEDICINAL AND TRADITIONAL FESTIVAL PLANTS USED IN HINDU RELIGION FROM RATNAGIRI DISTRICT OF MAHARASHTRA.
^Singh, R. P. (2023). Symbolism, sacrality, and foodscapes in Hindu pilgrimage system. D. Munro, B. Noel, H. Daniel, & Olsen (Eds.), Food, the pilgrim, and faith-based travel, 121-134.
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