Cynodon dactylon
(L.) Pers.
Poaceae
Agrostis bermudiana Tussac. ex Kunth
Agrostis filiformis J.Koenig ex Kunth
Agrostis linearis Retz.
Agrostis stellate Willd.
Capriola dactylon (L.) Kuntze
Chloris cynodon Trin.
Chloris maritima Trin.
Chloris paytensis Steud.
Cynodon affinis Caro & E.A.Sánchez
Cynodon aristiglumis Caro & E.A.Sánchez
Cynodon aristulatus Caro & E.A.Sánchez
Cynodon decipiens Caro & E.A.Sánchez
Cynodon distichloides Caro & E.A.Sánchez
Cynodon erectus J.Presl
Cynodon glabratus Steud.
Cynodon grandispiculus Caro & E.A.Sánchez
Cynodon hirsutissimus (Litard. & Maire) Caro & E.A.Sánchez
Cynodon iraquensis Caro
Cynodon laeviglumis Caro & E.A.Sánchez
Cynodon linearis Willd.
Cynodon maritimus Kunth
Cynodon mucronatus Caro & E.A.Sánchez
Cynodon nitidus Caro & E.A.Sánchez
Cynodon occidentalis Willd. ex Steud.
Cynodon pascuus Nees
Cynodon pedicellatus Caro
Cynodon polevansii Stent
Cynodon portoricensis Willd. ex Steud.
Cynodon repens Dulac
Cynodon sarmentosus Gray
Cynodon scabrifolius Caro
Cynodon stellatus Willd.
Cynodon tenuis Trin.
Cynodon umbellatus (Lam.) Caro
Cynosurus dactylon (L.) Pers.
Cynosurus uniflorus Walter
Dactilon officinale Vill.
Dactylus officinalis Asch.
Digitaria dactylon (L.) Scop.
Digitaria glumaepatula (Steud.) Miq.
Digitaria glumipatula (Steud.) Miq.
Digitaria linearis (L.) Pers.
Digitaria littoralis Salisb.
Digitaria maritima (Kunth) Spreng.
Digitaria stolonifera Schrad.
Fibichia dactylon (L.) Beck
Fibichia umbellata Koeler
Milium dactylon (L.) Moench
Panicum ambiguum (DC.) Le Turq.
Panicum dactylon L.
Panicum glumipatulum Steud.
Panicum lineare L.
Paspalum ambiguum DC.
Paspalum dactylon (L.) Lam.
Paspalum umbellatum Lam.
Phleum dactylon (L.) Georgi
Syntherisma linearis (L.) Nash
Vilfa linearis (Retz.) P.Beauv.
Vilfa stellata (Willd.) P.Beauv.
Common Name:
Flowering plants
Photograph by: ??????
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Flowering plants
Photograph by: ??????
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Growing as a mown roadside verge
Photograph by: Forest and Kim Starr
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
Growing right next to the beach, binding the sand and regrowing even after long dry periods
Photograph by: Forest and Kim Starr
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
One of many cultivars used as a lawn grass, on golf courses, for binding sand etc.
Photograph by: Raffi Kojian
Creative Commons 3
General Information
Cynodon dactylon is a short-lived, prostrate, perennial grass that creeps along the ground and roots wherever a node touches the ground, quickly forming a dense mat. The erect or ascending culms are generally 5 - 45cm long, occasionally to 130 cm[
372- Title
- Flowers of India
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.flowersofindia.net/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
,
413- Title
- Global Invasive Species Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.issg.org/database/welcome/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very detailed information on almost 400 species (with more being added) of plants that have become weeds in areas outside their native range.
].
The plant has a wide range of uses. Occasionally employed as a food, it is commonly used for a wide variety of medicinal purposes. It is an excellent lawn grass in the tropics, where it can also be used as a ground cover plant and to prevent soil erosion.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
Originally from Africa and S. Asia, it is widely naturalized in the temperate to tropical zones of Europe, Africa, Asia, the Pacific and the Americas.
Habitat
Along roadsides and in exposed rocky or sandy sites, at elevations up to 2,270 metres[
413- Title
- Global Invasive Species Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.issg.org/database/welcome/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very detailed information on almost 400 species (with more being added) of plants that have become weeds in areas outside their native range.
]. It sometimes forms dense mats on the upper parts of beaches and near mangrove swamps[
413- Title
- Global Invasive Species Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.issg.org/database/welcome/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very detailed information on almost 400 species (with more being added) of plants that have become weeds in areas outside their native range.
].
Properties
Weed Potential | Yes |
Edibility Rating | |
Medicinal Rating | |
Other Uses Rating | |
Habit | Evergreen Perennial |
Height | 0.30 m |
Growth Rate | Fast |
Pollinators | Wind |
Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Originally from tropical Africa and Asia, Bermuda grass has been introduced to all tropical and subtropical regions of the world and has been found to survive as far north as at 50°N in Europe and at elevations up to 4,000 metres in the Himalayas[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. It grows best where mean daily temperatures are above 24°c. Temperatures of -2 to -3°c usually kill the leaves and stems back to the ground, but the rhizomes survive these temperatures and regrowth is rapid when the weather warms up[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. It is generally found in the tropics in areas where the mean annual rainfall is in the range 600 - 1,800mm[
413- Title
- Global Invasive Species Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.issg.org/database/welcome/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very detailed information on almost 400 species (with more being added) of plants that have become weeds in areas outside their native range.
].
Requires a sunny position[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. Tolerant of a wide range of soils, including those of low-fertility[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
352- Title
- KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
]. A deep-rooted and drought-tolerant plant that grows best in a well-drained, dry to moist soil, though it can also tolerate long periods of flooding[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
352- Title
- KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
]. Tolerant of a broad soil pH range, but grows best with a soil pH above 5.5[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
A fast-growing plant that spreads rapidly to form a dense mat of growth. It is difficult to eradicate and can become a serious weed in cultivated land, affecting crops such as maize, cotton, sugar cane, vineyards and plantation crops[
269- Title
- Handbook of Energy Crops
- Publication
-
- Author
- Duke. J.
- Publisher
- -
- Year
- 1983
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Published only on the Internet, excellent information on a wide range of both temperate and tropical plants.
,
,
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. It is listed as a noxious weed.
The plant can be grown to form a dense lawn that tolerates foot traffic well and also excludes many common weeds[
352- Title
- KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
]. It is much grown in golf courses in subtropics and tropics, being used both on the fairways and tee areas[
352- Title
- KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
].
After fire, new shoots and leaves sprout quickly as they are nourished by ample underground reserves[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
Edible Uses
Young leaves[
459- Title
- The Useful Plants of the Island of Guam
- Publication
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol 9
- Author
- Safford W.E.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institute; Washington.
- Year
- 1905
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A very comprehensive, if rather dated, guide to the plants of Guam. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
A cooling drink is made from the leaves[
459- Title
- The Useful Plants of the Island of Guam
- Publication
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol 9
- Author
- Safford W.E.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institute; Washington.
- Year
- 1905
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A very comprehensive, if rather dated, guide to the plants of Guam. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Medicinal
The plant is alterative, antipruritic, antiseptic, aperient, astringent, demulcent, depurative, diuretic, emollient, styptic, sudorific and vulnerary[
269- Title
- Handbook of Energy Crops
- Publication
-
- Author
- Duke. J.
- Publisher
- -
- Year
- 1983
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Published only on the Internet, excellent information on a wide range of both temperate and tropical plants.
,
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
]. A decoction of the whole plant is used as a treatment for conditions such as anasarca, anuria, calculus, cancer, carbuncles, convulsions, cough, cramps, cystitis, diarrhea, dropsy, dysentery, epilepsy, headache, hemorrhage, hypertension, hysteria, insanity, kidneys, laxative, measles, rubella, snakebite, sores, stomach aches, stones, tumours, urogenital disorders, warts, and wounds[
269- Title
- Handbook of Energy Crops
- Publication
-
- Author
- Duke. J.
- Publisher
- -
- Year
- 1983
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Published only on the Internet, excellent information on a wide range of both temperate and tropical plants.
,
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
]. It is combined with Chamaesyce hirta and used as a remedy for diarrhoea and biliousness[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
The leaves are added to baths in order to prevent itching[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
]. The crushed leaves are applied to minor wounds as a styptic to stop bleeding[
].
According to the Ayurveda tradition, the plant is pungent, bitter, fragrant, heating, appetizer, vulnerary, anthelmintic, antipyretic, alexiteric. It destroys foulness of breath, is useful in the treatment of leucoderma, bronchitis, piles, asthma, tumors, and enlargement of the spleen[
].
According to the Unani system of medicine, the plant is bitter, sharp hot taste, good odour, laxative, brain and heart tonic, aphrodisiac, alexipharmic, emetic, emmenagogue, expectorant, carminative and useful against grippe in children, and for pains, inflammations, and toothache[
].
In Homoeopathic systems of medicine, the plant is used to treat all types of bleeding and skin troubles[
].
Extracts of the plant have a high phagocytic index[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
The shoot apex may produce cyanogenetic glycosides[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
NOTES: In Rwanda this plant is used to treat gonorrhoea and conjunctivitis[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
Agroforestry Uses:
The plant spreads rapidly by means of both stolons and rhizomes. It is grown as a ground cover to bind the soil and prevent erosion[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
Division.