Editing Cynodon dactylon

{{Short description|Species of grass}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Cynodon dactylon 2.jpg
|genus = Cynodon
|species = dactylon
|authority = ([[L.]]) [[Pers.]]
|synonyms = {{Collapsible list |
{{Plainlist | style = margin-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em; |
*''Agrostis bermudiana'' {{Au|Tussac. ex Kunth}} nom. inval.
*''Agrostis filiformis'' {{Au|J.Koenig ex Kunth}} nom. inval.
*''Agrostis linearis'' {{Au|Retz.}}
*''Agrostis stellata'' {{Au|Willd.}}
*''Capriola dactylon'' {{Au|(L.) Kuntze}}
*''Capriola dactylon'' {{Au|(L.) Hitchc.}}
*''Chloris cynodon'' {{Au|Trin.}} nom. illeg.
*''Chloris maritima'' {{Au|Trin.}}
*''Chloris paytensis'' {{Au|Steud.}}
*''Cynodon affinis'' {{Au|Caro & E.A.Sánchez}}
*''Cynodon aristiglumis'' {{Au|Caro & E.A.Sánchez}}
*''Cynodon aristulatus'' {{Au|Caro & E.A.Sánchez}}
*''Cynodon barberi'' f. ''longifolia'' {{Au|Join}}
*''Cynodon decipiens'' {{Au|Caro & E.A.Sánchez}}
*''Cynodon distichloides'' {{Au|Caro & E.A.Sánchez}}
*''Cynodon erectus'' {{Au|J.Presl}}
*''Cynodon glabratus'' {{Au|Steud.}}
*''Cynodon grandispiculus'' {{Au|Caro & E.A.Sánchez}} nom. inval.
*''Cynodon hirsutissimus'' {{Au|(Litard. & Maire) Caro & E.A.Sánchez}}
*''Cynodon iraquensis'' {{Au|Caro}}
*''Cynodon laeviglumis'' {{Au|Caro & E.A.Sánchez}}
*''Cynodon linearis'' {{Au|Willd.}}
*''Cynodon maritimus'' {{Au|Kunth}}
*''Cynodon mucronatus'' {{Au|Caro & E.A.Sánchez}}
*''Cynodon nitidus'' {{Au|Caro & E.A.Sánchez}}
*''Cynodon occidentalis'' {{Au|Willd. ex Steud.}} nom. inval.
*''Cynodon pascuus'' {{Au|Nees}}
*''Cynodon pedicellatus'' {{Au|Caro}}
*''Cynodon polevansii'' {{Au|Stent}}
*''Cynodon portoricensis'' {{Au|Willd. ex Steud.}} nom. inval.
*''Cynodon repens'' {{Au|Dulac}} nom. illeg.
*''Cynodon sarmentosus'' {{Au|Gray}} nom. illeg.
*''Cynodon scabrifolius'' {{Au|Caro}}
*''Cynodon stellatus'' {{Au|Willd.}}
*''Cynodon tenuis'' {{Au|Trin.}}
*''Cynodon umbellatus'' {{Au|(Lam.) Caro}}
*''Cynosurus dactylon'' {{Au|(L.) Pers.}}
*''Cynosurus uniflorus'' {{Au|Walter}}
*''Dactilon officinale'' {{Au|Vill.}} nom. illeg.
*''Dactylus officinalis'' {{Au|Asch.}} nom. inval.
*''Digitaria ambigua'' {{Au|(Lapeyr. ex DC.) Mérat}}
*''Digitaria dactylon'' {{Au|(L.) Scop.}}
*''Digitaria glumaepatula'' {{Au|(Steud.) Miq.}}
*''Digitaria glumipatula'' {{Au|(Steud.) Miq.}}
*''Digitaria linearis'' {{Au|(L.) Pers.}}
*''Digitaria linearis'' {{Au|(Retz.) Spreng.}}
*''Digitaria littoralis'' {{Au|Salisb.}} nom. illeg.
*''Digitaria maritima'' {{Au|(Kunth) Spreng.}}
*''Digitaria stolonifera'' {{Au|Schrad.}} nom. illeg.
*''Fibichia dactylon'' {{Au|(L.) Beck}}
*''Fibichia umbellata'' {{Au|Koeler}} nom. illeg.
*''Milium dactylon'' {{Au|(L.) Moench}}
*''Panicum ambiguum'' {{Au|(DC.) Le Turq.}}
*''Panicum dactylon'' {{Au|L.}}
*''Panicum glumipatulum'' {{Au|Steud.}}
*''Panicum lineare'' {{Au|L.}}
*''Paspalum ambiguum'' {{Au|DC.}}
*''Paspalum dactylon'' {{Au|(L.) Lam.}}
*''Paspalum umbellatum'' {{Au|Lam.}}
*''Phleum dactylon'' {{Au|(L.) Georgi}}
*''Syntherisma linearis'' {{Au|(L.) Nash}}
*''Vilfa linearis'' {{Au|(Retz.) P.Beauv.}}
*''Vilfa stellata'' {{Au|(Willd.) P.Beauv.}}
  }}
}}
|synonyms_ref =<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-406339|title=The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species}}</ref>
|}}

'''''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>{{Cite web | url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:397065-1 |title = Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. &#124; Plants of the World Online &#124; Kew Science}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/17463 |title= CABI Invasive Species Compendium}}</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>{{cite web |title=Iraq |url=http://lntreasures.com/iraq.html |access-date=5 November 2015 |publisher=lntreasures.com}}</ref> Bahama grass, crab grass, devil's grass, couch grass, Indian ''doab'', ''arugampul'', grama, wiregrass and scutch grass.

==Description==
[[File:Cynodon dactylon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Growing in [[Honokohau Settlement and Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park|Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park]] on the [[Island of Hawai'i]]]]
The blades are a grey-green colour and are short, usually {{Convert|2|–|15|cm|abbr=on}} long with rough edges.<ref name="bidgeebush">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6J1VAQAACAAJ|title=Bidgee bush: an identification guide to common native plant species of the south western slopes of New South Wales |last1=Walker |first1=Karen |last2=Burrows|first2= Geoff|last3= McMahon|first3= Lynne |year=2001 |publisher=Greening Australia |location=Yarralumla, Australian Capital Territory |isbn=978-1-875345-61-8 |page=82 |access-date=21 March 2010}}</ref> The erect stems can grow {{convert|1|–|30|cm|abbr=on}} 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 {{convert|2|–|5|cm|abbr=on}} long.<ref name="bidgeebush" />

It has a deep root system; in drought situations with penetrable soil, the root system can grow to over {{convert|2|m|ft}} deep, though most of the root mass is less than {{convert|60|cm|in}} 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, [[stolon]]s, and [[rhizome]]s. Growth begins at temperatures above {{convert|15|°C|°F|abbr=on}} with optimum growth between {{convert|24|and|37|C|F}}; 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.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

==Cultivation==
''Cynodon dactylon'' is widely cultivated in warm climates all over the world between about 30° S and 30° N latitude, and that get between {{convert|625|and|1750|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rainfall a year (or less, if irrigation is available). For example, in the United States, it is grown mostly in the [[Southern United States|southern half]] of the country.

[[File:Tiger striping grass.png|thumb|upright=1.1|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&nbsp;cm.]]

===Cultivars===
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>{{Cite web|url=http://caes2.caes.uga.edu/commodities/turfgrass/grass-breeding/tifway.htm|title=Warm-Season Grass Breeding|website=www.uga.edu|access-date=2017-09-13}}</ref>

==Uses==
===Religious===
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 [[Puranas|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 (Hinduism)|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 (Hindu calendar)|Bhadra]] month of the [[Hindu calendar]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Majupuria|first=Trilok Chandra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wiBPAQAAIAAJ&q=durva+grass|title=Religious & useful plants of Nepal & India: (medicinal plants and flowers as mentioned in religious myths and legends of Hinduism and Buddhism)|date=2009|publisher=Rohit Kumar (Majupuria)|isbn=978-9937-2-0473-6|language=en}}</ref>

It is known as "Arugampull" in [[Tamil language|Tamil]], "Garik&emacr;hullu in [[Kannada]] and "Karuka" in [[Malayalam]] and is part of the [[Dasapushpam|Dashapushpam]] (Ten sacred flowers) in [[Kerala]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Vijayan Namboothiri, Mini|title='Dashapushpam'- through the looking glasses of Science and Religion|isbn=978-620-0-31860-2|oclc=1197284682}}</ref>
[[File:Nepali Hindu Wedding (10).jpg|alt=Groom tying a dubo garland on his bride's neck, in a Nepalese Khas Hindu wedding.|thumb|upright=1.1|Groom tying a dubo garland around the bride's neck in a [[Nepal|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)|Gaura festival]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=आज नागपञ्चमी पर्व मनाइँदै , यस्तो छ धार्मिक मान्यता |url=https://www.nepalipatra.com/news/naagpanchami/77727 |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Nepalipatra}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=सुदूरपश्चिममा गौरा पर्व सुरु |url=https://www.onlinekhabar.com/2021/08/1004781 |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Online Khabar |language=ne}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=किन नागलाई दूध र दुबो चढाइन्छ ? |url=https://annapurnapost.com/news/kin-naaglaaii-duudh-r-dubo-cddhaainch-184606 |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=किन नागलाई दूध र दुबो चढाइन्छ ? |language=ne}}</ref> In a Nepalese Hindu wedding, a garland made of this grass is worn by both bride and groom.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-08-09 |title=Love and Marriage in Nepal |url=https://www.vogue.com/projects/13534534/love-marriage-nepal-wedding |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Vogue |language=en-US |quote=nd a garland of flowers and dubo or durva grass, a symbol of long life.}}</ref>

This grass is a Yoruba herb used for Esu or Elegba in the [[Ifá]] system of [[orisha|orishas]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2020}}

===Medicinal value===
The [[rhizome]]s are reported to act as a [[diuretic]] in humans and the grass juice can act as an [[astringent]].<ref name="Kandwal&Sharma2011">{{cite journal |last1=Kandwal |first1=Manish K. |last2=Sharma |first2=M. L. |title=Cynodon dactylon (L) Pers. : a self-treatment grass for dogs |journal=Current Science |date=2011 |volume=101 |issue=5 |pages=619–621 |jstor=24078622 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24078622 |access-date=23 March 2021}}</ref>

It has been observed that ''Cynodon dactylon'' may be selectively eaten by [[dog]]s 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" />

===Other===
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 course]]s in the southern and southeastern United States and South Africa. It has a relatively coarse-bladed form with numerous [[cultivar]]s selected for different turf requirements.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

Bermuda grass has been cultivated in [[saline soils]] in [[California]]'s [[Central Valley (California)|Central Valley]], which are too salt-damaged to support agricultural crops; it was successfully [[irrigated]] with saline water and used to graze [[cattle]].<ref>
{{cite journal|last=Kaffka|first=Stephen|year=2009|title=Can feedstock production for biofuels be sustainable in California?|url=http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/repositoryfiles/ca6304p202-72959.pdf|url-status=dead|journal=California Agriculture|volume=63|issue=4|pages=202–207|doi=10.3733/ca.v063n04p202|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813233813/http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/repositoryfiles/ca6304p202-72959.pdf|archive-date=2017-08-13|access-date=2013-06-09}}
</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ciwr.ucanr.edu/files/169879.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927125255/http://ciwr.ucanr.edu/files/169879.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 27, 2015|title=Bermuda Grass Yield and Quality in Response to Different Salinity and N, Se, Mo, and B Rates in West San Joaquin Valley|author1=Stephen Kaffka|author2=Stephen Grattan|website=UC Center for Water Resources|author3=Dennis Corwi|author4=Maximo Alonso|author5=George E. Brown Jr.}}</ref>

==Professional sports==
{{unreferenced section|date=September 2023}}

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

*[[Arizona Cardinals]] ([[State Farm Stadium]] in [[Glendale, Arizona]]) (Tifway 419 Hybrid Bermudagrass)
*[[Baltimore Ravens]] ([[M&T Bank Stadium]] in [[Baltimore]]) (Tifway 419 Bermuda grass)
*[[Chicago Bears]] ([[Soldier Field]] in [[Chicago]]) (Tahoma 31 Bermuda grass)
*[[Jacksonville Jaguars]] ([[TIAA Bank Field]] in [[Jacksonville, Florida]]) (Tifway 419 Bermuda grass)
*[[Kansas City Chiefs]] ([[Arrowhead Stadium]] in [[Kansas City, Missouri]]) (Latitude 36 Bermuda grass)
*[[Las Vegas Raiders]] ([[Allegiant Stadium]] in [[Paradise, Nevada]]) 
*[[Miami Dolphins]] ([[Hard Rock Stadium]] in [[Miami]]) (Tifway 419 Bermuda grass)
*[[Philadelphia Eagles]] ([[Lincoln Financial Field]] in [[Philadelphia]] (Tahoma 31 Bermuda grass)
*[[San Francisco 49ers]] ([[Levi's Stadium]] in [[Santa Clara, California]]) (Tifway II Bermuda grass)
*[[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] ([[Raymond James Stadium]] in [[Tampa, Florida]]) (Tifway 419 Bermudagrass)
*[[Tennessee Titans]] ([[Nissan Stadium]] in [[Nashville, Tennessee]]) (Tifsport Bermuda sod)
*[[Washington Commanders]] ([[FedEx Field]] in [[Landover, Maryland]]) (Latitude 36 Bermuda grass)

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

*[[Los Angeles Angels]] ([[Angel Stadium]] in [[Anaheim, California]]) (Tifway 419 Bermudagrass)
*[[Los Angeles Dodgers]] ([[Dodger Stadium]] in [[Los Angeles]]) (Santa Ana Bermudagrass)
*[[Oakland Athletics]] ([[Oakland Coliseum]] in [[Oakland, California]]) (Tifway II Bermuda Grass)
*[[San Diego Padres]] ([[Petco Park]] in [[San Diego]]) (BullsEye Bermuda Grass)
*[[San Francisco Giants]] ([[Oracle Park]] in [[San Francisco]]) (Tifway 419 Bermudagrass)

==Ecology==
[[File:Cynodon dactylon at Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|''Cynodon dactylon'' (foreground, the background grass is a separate species) at Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden]]
[[File:Bermuda Grass growing out of a curb.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Invasive nature of cynodon dactylon as it grows out of a small hole in a concrete curb]]

===Invasive species===
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|Fluazifop-P-butyl]], and [[Glyphosate]]).<ref>{{cite web|year=2011 |url=http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=346799 |title=Tenacity and Bermuda Control - LawnSite.com™ - Lawn Care & Landscaping Business Forum |publisher=Lawnsite.com |access-date=2013-06-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1094/ATS-2005-0119-01-RS |author1=Teuton T.C. |author2=J.B. Unruh |author3=B.J. Brecke |author4=G.L. Miller |year=2005 |title=Hybrid Bermudagrass (''Cynodon dactylon'' (L) Pers. x ''C. transvaalensis'' Burtt-Davy) Control with Glyphosate and Fluazifop-p-butyl |journal=Applied Turfgrass Science |s2cid=221234330 |url=http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/pub/ats/research/2005/hybrid |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110321165942/http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/pub/ats/research/2005/hybrid |archive-date=2011-03-21|url-access=subscription }}</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>{{cite web|url=http://turf.uark.edu/research/research+series/475/BERMUDAGRASS+CONTROL+WITH+ARSENAL.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100609203444/http://turf.uark.edu/research/research%20series/475/BERMUDAGRASS%20CONTROL%20WITH%20ARSENAL.pdf|title=BERMUDAGRASS CONTROL WITH ARSENAL |archive-date=9 June 2010|author=John Boyd|author2=Brian N. Rodgers}}</ref>

The [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrid]] variety [[Tifton 85]], like some other grasses (e.g. [[sorghum]]), produces [[cyanide]] under certain conditions,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soiltesting.tamu.edu/publications/E-543.pdf|title=Nitrates and Prussic Acid in Forages|first1=T. L.|last1=Provin|first2=J. L.|last2=Pitt|publisher=Texas A&M University System|access-date=June 24, 2012|archive-date=July 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721225032/http://soiltesting.tamu.edu/publications/E-543.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> and has been implicated in several livestock deaths.

==References==
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==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/GBASE/DATA/PF000208.HTM FAO.org factsheet: ''Cynodon dactylon''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100830111118/http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/GBASE/DATA/PF000208.HTM |date=2010-08-30}}
*[http://www.cimantalya.com Cim Antalya factsheet: ''Bermuda Çim'']

{{Taxonbar|from=Q208705}}
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[[Category:Chloridoideae]]
[[Category:Flora of Africa]]
[[Category:Flora of Europe]]
[[Category:Flora of Asia]]
[[Category:Flora of Australasia]]
[[Category:Flora of the Coral Sea Islands Territory]]
[[Category:Forages]]
[[Category:Lawn grasses]]
[[Category:Plants in Hinduism]]
[[Category:Grasses of Lebanon]]