Cynodon dactylon, commonly known as Bermuda grass or as couch grass in Australia and New Zealand, is a Poaceae found worldwide. It is native to Europe, Africa, Australia, and much of Asia and has been introduced to the Americas.
Hybrid species of the grass are taxonomically known as Cynodon dactylon × transvaalensis. These interspecific hybrids are the result of cross-pollination between different cultivars. Hybrid cultivars of the grass are commonly developed by selecting individual plants with desirable traits from seeded or vegetatively propagated stands.
Description
The blades are grey-green in color and short, usually long with rough edges.
The erect stems can grow 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 long.
Cynodon dactylon has a deep root system. When grown in penetrable soil under drought conditions, its roots can grow to over deep, though most of the root mass is less than under the surface. The grass creeps along the ground with its stolons and roots wherever a node touches the ground, forming a dense mat. C. dactylon reproduces through seeds, stolons, and . The grass starts actively growing at temperatures above with ideal growth between ; in winter or in the dry season, the grass becomes dormant and turns light brown. Optimal development also occurs in areas of full sun exposure, while dense shade, especially near tree bases, generally suppresses it.
Cultivation
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 of rainfall a year (or less, if irrigation is available). For example, in the United States, it is grown mostly in the southern half of the country.
Cultivars
Hundreds of cultivars have been created specifically for environmental tolerance and stakeholder requirements. New cultivars are released annually.
[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.]
Uses
Religious
Commonly known as
durva or
dūrvāyugma in
India, this grass is used in the
Ayurveda system of medicine.
Performing a rite called "the consecration of
Rudra (Sanskrit
Rudrabhisheka)" described in the Purāṇas while offering durva 11 times bestows long life. In Hinduism, it is considered important in the worship of Lord
Ganesha.
[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.] A clump of 21 shoots of this grass is usually offered during puja (worship). It has been a part of Hindu rituals since Vedic times. A unique festival called
Durga Ashtami, dedicated to this grass, is celebrated on the eighth day of the Navratri festival.
It is known as arugampull in Tamil language, garikēhullu in Kannada and karuka in Malayalam, and is part of the Dasapushpam (ten sacred flowers) in Kerala.
In Nepal, 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 the Naga Panchami festival as well as the Gaura festival.
This grass is a Yoruba herb used for Esu or Elegba in the Ifá system of .
Medicinal value
The
are reported to act as a
diuretic in humans, and the grass juice can act as an
astringent.
It has been observed that Cynodon dactylon may be selectively eaten by to swiftly induce vomiting when they have gastrointestinal problems. The effect may be due to irritation caused by bristles on the leaf margin.
Other
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 for
in the southern and southeastern United States and
South Africa. Bermuda grass is also commonly used for football and baseball fields. It has a relatively coarse-bladed form with numerous
selected for different turf requirements.
Bermuda grass has been cultivated in saline soils in California's Central Valley, which are too salt-damaged to support agricultural crops; it was successfully irrigated with saline water and used to graze cattle.[
]
Ecology
Invasive species
Bermuda grass can be a highly aggressive
invasive species, crowding out most other grasses and invading other habitats, and has become a hard-to-eradicate
weed in some areas (it can be controlled somewhat with
triclopyr,
mesotrione,
Fluazifop, and
glyphosate).
This weedy nature leads some gardeners to give it the name of
devil 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.
Toxicity
The hybrid variety Tifton 85, like some other grasses (e.g.
sorghum), produces
cyanide under certain conditions,
and has been implicated in several livestock deaths.
External links
