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Cynodon dactylon

Article Discussion

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Cynodon dactylon, commonly known as Bermuda grass, also known as couch grass in Australia and New Zealand, is a grass found worldwide. It is native to Europe, Africa, Australia and much of Asia. It has been introduced to the Americas.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Contrary to its common name, it is not native to Bermuda and is in fact an abundant invasive species there. In Bermuda it has been known as "crab grass" (also a name for Digitaria sanguinalis). Other names are Dhoob, dūrvā grass, ethana grass, dubo, dog grass, dog's tooth grass,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Bahama grass, crab grass, devil's grass, couch grass, Indian doab, arugampul, grama, wiregrass and scutch grass.

DescriptionEdit

File:Cynodon dactylon.jpg
Growing in Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park on the Island of Hawai'i

The blades are a grey-green colour and are short, usually Template:Convert long with rough edges.<ref name="bidgeebush">Template:Cite book</ref> The erect stems can grow Template:Convert 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 Template:Convert long.<ref name="bidgeebush" />

It has a deep root system; in drought situations with penetrable soil, the root system can grow to over Template:Convert deep, though most of the root mass is less than Template:Convert 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 rhizomes. Growth begins at temperatures above Template:Convert with optimum growth between Template:Convert; in winter or in the dry season, the grass becomes dormant and turns brown. Growth is promoted by full sun and retarded by full shade, e.g., close to tree trunks.Template:Citation needed

CultivationEdit

Cynodon dactylon is widely cultivated in warm climates all over the world between about 30° S and 30° N latitude, and that get between Template:Convert 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.

File:Tiger striping grass.png
Cultivated Bermuda grass with "tiger striping", caused by Rayleigh–Bénard convection during the first frosts of the fall. The frost regions turn brown after several days and the frost-free regions remain green.<ref>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</ref> The spatial scale of the pattern is ~20 cm.

CultivarsEdit

Hundreds of cultivars have been created specifically for environmental tolerance and stakeholder requirements. New cultivars are released yearly.<ref>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.</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

UsesEdit

ReligiousEdit

Commonly known as "durva" or dūrvāyugma in India, this grass is used in the Ayurveda system of medicine.<ref name="Kandwal&Sharma2011" /> Performing a rite called "the consecration of Rudra (Sanskrit Rudrabhisheka) described in the Purāṇas (Sanskrit purāṇokta) while offering durva 11 times bestows long life. In Hinduism, it is considered important in the worship of Lord Ganesha. 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 Shukla Paksha of Bhadra month of the Hindu calendar.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

File:Nepali Hindu Wedding (10).jpg
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 symbolises long life. The grass is an essential item for the Naga Panchami festival as well as the Gaura festival.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In a Nepalese Hindu wedding, a garland made of this grass is worn by both bride and groom.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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

Medicinal valueEdit

The rhizomes are reported to act as a diuretic in humans and the grass juice can act as an astringent.<ref name="Kandwal&Sharma2011">Template:Cite journal</ref>

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.<ref name="Kandwal&Sharma2011" />

OtherEdit

It is fast-growing and tough, making it popular and useful for sports fields, as when damaged it will recover quickly. It is a highly desirable turf grass in warm temperate climates, particularly for those regions where its tolerance to heat and drought enable it to survive where few other grasses do. This combination makes it a frequent choice for golf courses in the southern and southeastern United States and South Africa. It has a relatively coarse-bladed form with numerous cultivars selected for different turf requirements.Template:Citation needed

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.<ref> Template:Cite journal </ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Professional sportsEdit

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National Football LeagueEdit

The following National Football League teams use it as the playing surface in their home stadiums:

Major League BaseballEdit

The following Major League Baseball teams use it as the playing surface in their home stadiums:

EcologyEdit

File:Cynodon dactylon at Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden.jpg
Cynodon dactylon (foreground, the background grass is a separate species) at Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden
File:Bermuda Grass growing out of a curb.jpg
Invasive nature of cynodon dactylon as it grows out of a small hole in a concrete curb

Invasive speciesEdit

It is 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).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The hybrid variety Tifton 85, like some other grasses (e.g. sorghum), produces cyanide under certain conditions,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and has been implicated in several livestock deaths.

ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

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