Common name: Couch, Bermudagrass
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. APNI* Description: Rhizomatous and/or stoloniferous mat-forming perennial, to 0.3 m high, rooting at the nodes; culms erect or geniculate.
Leaves with ligule a dense row of short hairs on a membranous rim with longer hairs at each end; blade flat, linear-triangular, 2–15 cm long, 1–4 mm wide, pointed, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, minutely scabrous on the margin.
Inflorescence of 2–7 spikes each 2–6 cm long, linear, green or purple. Spikelets broad, laterally compressed, to 3 mm long. Glumes acuminate, 1–2.5 mm long. Lemma keeled, mucronate, 1.5–3 mm long, ciliolate along the keel; sterile rachilla extension 0.5–1.5 mm long, sometimes topped with a vestigial spikelet.
Flowering: summer.
Distribution and occurrence: Widespread and very common; widely cultivated as a lawn grass and for pasture.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST, NWS, CWS, SWS, NWP, SWP, NFWP, SFWP, LHI
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. Tas. W.A. S.A. N.T.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & S. M. Hastings
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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