View source for Cynodon dactylon

{{Treatment/ID
|accepted_name=Cynodon dactylon
|accepted_authority=(L.) Pers.
|publications=
|common_names=Bermudagrass
|basionyms=
|synonyms={{Treatment/ID/Synonym
|name=Cynosurus dactylon
|authority=
|rank=species
}} {{Treatment/ID/Synonym
|name=Cynodon erectus
|authority=
|rank=species
}} {{Treatment/ID/Synonym
|name=Capriola dactylon
|authority=
|rank=species
}}
|hierarchy=Poaceae;Poaceae subfam. Chloridoideae;Poaceae tribe Cynodonteae;Cynodon;Cynodon dactylon
|hierarchy_nav=<div class="higher-taxa"><div class="higher-taxon"><small>family</small>[[Poaceae]]</div><div class="higher-taxon"><small>subfamily</small>[[Poaceae subfam. Chloridoideae]]</div><div class="higher-taxon"><small>tribe</small>[[Poaceae tribe Cynodonteae]]</div><div class="higher-taxon"><small>genus</small>[[Cynodon]]</div><div class="higher-taxon"><small>species</small>[[Cynodon dactylon]]</div></div>
|volume=Volume 25
|mention_page=
|treatment_page=page 238
}}<!--

--><span class="statement" id="st-undefined" data-properties=""><b>Plants </b>stoloniferous, usually also rhizomatous. <b>Culms</b> 5-40(50) cm, not becoming woody. <b>Sheaths</b> glabrous or with scattered hairs; collars usually with long hairs, particularly at the margins; ligules about 0.5 mm, of hairs; blades 1-6(16) cm long, (1)2-4(5) mm wide, flat at maturity, conduplicate or convolute in bud, glabrous or the adaxial surfaces pilose. <b>Panicles</b> with (2)4-6(9) branches; branches 2-6 cm, in a single whorl, axes triquetrous. <b>Spikelets</b> 2-3.2 mm. <b>Lower</b> glumes 1.5-2 mm; upper glumes 1.4-2.3 mm; lemmas 1.9-3.1 mm, keels not winged, pubescent, margins usually less densely pubescent; anthers dehiscent at maturity; paleas glabrous. <b>2n</b> = 18, 36.</span><!--

-->{{Treatment/Body
|distribution=Conn.;N.J.;N.Y.;Wash.;Va.;Del.;D.C;W.Va.;Pacific Islands (Hawaii);Fla.;N.H.;N.Mex.;Tex.;La.;B.C.;Md.;Tenn.;N.C.;S.C.;Pa.;Nev.;Puerto Rico;Colo.;Kans.;Nebr.;Okla.;Virgin Islands;Calif.;Ala.;Ark.;Ill.;Ga.;Ind.;Iowa;Ariz.;Idaho;Mont.;Oreg.;Mass.;Ohio;Utah;Mo.;Mich.;Miss.;Ky.
|discussion=<p><i>Cynodon dactylon</i> is a variable species, but taxonomists disagree on just how variable. Caro and Sanchez (1969) limited <i>C. dactylon</i> to plants with conduplicate leaves, placing those with convolute leaves in a number of other species, such as <i>C. affinis</i> Caro & Sanchez and C. aristiglumis Caro & Sanchez; de Wet and Harlan (1970) do not mention this character in their study of <i>Cynodon</i>, Caro and Sanchez also employed several other characters in the key separating <i>C. dactylon</i> from the species with convolute immature leaves, but the overlap between the two sides of the lead is substantial. Pending further study, the broader interpretation, in which <i>C. dactylon</i> includes plants with both convolute and conduplicate leaves, has been adopted.</p><!--
--><p>Several varieties of <i>C. dactylon</i> have been described, in addition to which numerous cultivars have been developed, some as turf grasses for lawns or putting greens, others as pasture or forage grasses. Their useful range is limited because <i>C. dactylon</i> is not cold hardy, going dormant and turning brown when nighttime temperatures fall below freezing or average daytime temperatures are below 10°C.</p><!--
--><p>The most commonly encountered variety, both in the Flora region and in other parts of the world, is <i>C. dactylon </i>var.<i> dactylon</i>, largely because it thrives in severely disturbed, exposed sites; it does not invade natural grass-lands or forests. Determining how many other varieties are established in the Flora region is almost impossible, because there has been no global study of variation in the species. The presence of numerous cultivars complicates an already difficult problem. The two varieties keyed out below are the only two that grow in the Flora region according to de Wet and Harlan (1970), but these authors do not appear to have considered the taxa recognized by Caro and Sanchez (1969). For most purposes, it is probably neither necessary nor feasible to identify the variety of <i>C. dactylon</i> encountered.</p><!--
--><p><i>Cynodon dactylon</i> is considered a weed in many countries and it is true that, once established, it is difficult to eradicate. It does, however, have some redeeming values. It is rich in vitamin C, and its leaves are sometimes used for an herbal tea. It is claimed to have various medicinal properties, but these have not been verified. It is considered a good pasture grass, in addition to which it is sometimes grown as an ornamental and for erosion control on exposed soils.</p>
|tables=
|references=
}}<!--

--><div class="treatment-key">
==Key==
<div class="treatment-key-group">
  
{| class="wikitable fna-keytable"
|-id=key-0-1
|1
|Rhizomes near the surface (sometimes surfacing for a short distance before submerging again), the tips eventually surfacing and, like the lateral buds, producing tillers
|[[Cynodon dactylon var. dactylon|Cynodon dactylon var. dactylon]]
|-id=key-0-1
|1
|Rhizomes growing up to 1 m deep, the tips remaining below ground, only the lateral buds producing tillers
|[[Cynodon dactylon var. aridus|Cynodon dactylon var. aridus]]
|}
</div></div><!--

-->{{#Taxon:
name=Cynodon dactylon
|authority=(L.) Pers.
|rank=species
|parent rank=genus
|synonyms=Cynosurus dactylon;Cynodon erectus;Capriola dactylon
|basionyms=
|family=Poaceae
|illustrator=Linda A. Vorobik;Annaliese Miller
|illustration copyright=Utah State University
|distribution=Conn.;N.J.;N.Y.;Wash.;Va.;Del.;D.C;W.Va.;Pacific Islands (Hawaii);Fla.;N.H.;N.Mex.;Tex.;La.;B.C.;Md.;Tenn.;N.C.;S.C.;Pa.;Nev.;Puerto Rico;Colo.;Kans.;Nebr.;Okla.;Virgin Islands;Calif.;Ala.;Ark.;Ill.;Ga.;Ind.;Iowa;Ariz.;Idaho;Mont.;Oreg.;Mass.;Ohio;Utah;Mo.;Mich.;Miss.;Ky.
|reference=None
|publication title=
|publication year=
|special status=
|source xml=https://jpend@bitbucket.org/aafc-mbb/fna-data-curation.git/src/f50eec43f223ca0e34566be0b046453a0960e173/coarse_grained_fna_xml/V25/V25_844.xml
|subfamily=Poaceae subfam. Chloridoideae
|tribe=Poaceae tribe Cynodonteae
|genus=Cynodon
|species=Cynodon dactylon
}}<!--

-->[[Category:Treatment]][[Category:Cynodon]]