Cynodon dactylon, commonly known as Bermuda grass or as couch grass in Australia and New Zealand, is a grass found worldwide. It is native to Europe, Africa, Australia, and much of Asia namely Nepal's hilly regions and has been introduced to the Americas.

Contrary to its common name, Cynodon dactylon is not native to Bermuda but is an abundant invasive species there. In Bermuda, it has been known as crabgrass, also a name for Digitaria sanguinalis. Other names include dhoob, dūrvā grass, ethana grass, dubo, dog grass, dog's tooth grass, Bahama grass, devil's grass, couch grass, Indian doab, arugampul, grama, wiregrass, and scutch grass.

Hybrids with Cynodon transvaalensis are known. These interspecific hybrids occur naturally through cross-pollination, but cultivars are also developed by selecting individual plants with desirable traits from seeded or vegetatively propagated stands. These cultivars are typically triploids, meaning they contain three sets of chromosomes.

Description

thumb|upright=1.1|Growing in [[Honokohau Settlement and Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park|Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park on the Island of Hawaiʻi]]

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. The spatial scale of the pattern is ~20 cm.]]

Cultivars

Hundreds of cultivars have been created specifically for environmental tolerance and stakeholder requirements. New cultivars are released annually.

Uses

Religious

Commonly known as durva or dūrvāyugma in India, this grass is used in the Ayurveda system of medicine. 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, garikēhullu in Kannada and karuka in Malayalam, and is part of the Dashapushpam (ten sacred flowers) in Kerala.

alt=Groom tying a dubo garland on his bride's neck, in a Nepalese Khas Hindu wedding.|thumb|upright=1.1|A groom tying a dubo garland around the bride's neck in a [[Nepalese Hindu wedding]]

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. In a Nepalese Hindu wedding, a garland made of this grass is worn by both bride and groom.

This grass is a Yoruba herb used for Esu or Elegba in the Ifá system of orishas.

Medicinal value

The rhizomes 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 dogs to swiftly induce vomiting when they have gastrointestinal problems. The effect may be due to irritation caused by bristles on the leaf margin.

Ecology

thumb|236px|Cynodon dactylon growing out of a concrete [[curb]]

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-p-butyl, 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.

Density of Cynodon

Cynodon dactylon is an aggressive grass that can be difficult to remove once established, so it is best suited for areas where you want a permanent, fast-growing ground cover. It can also grow if we again sowed on an fertile soil. Once established, it creates a durable, dense turf that can withstand heavy traffic.

References

  • FAO.org factsheet: Cynodon dactylon
  • Cim Antalya factsheet: Bermuda Çim