HOW TO KNOW THE GRASSES 

 9a. Plants lacking stolons; rachilla not prolonged beyond the floret. . 10 



9b. Plants producing extensive creeping stolons; rachilla prolonged 

 beyond the floret as a smooth bristle. Fig. 254. 



BERMUDA GRASS Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. 



Perennial; producing both stolons and 

 rhizomes and forming a fine green turf; 

 erect portions of culms 10 — 40 cm. tall, 

 bearing about 4 — 5 slender spikes at the 

 apex. Bermuda grass is one of the prin- 

 cipal lawn grasses in the South and furn- 

 ishes much pasturage as well. It is very 

 persistent when once established and may 

 become a serious weed pest on agricultural 

 lands. This species is apparently native 

 to the tropics of the Old World, but has 

 become widely dispersed in warmer parts 

 of the world. Blooming period extends 

 through the warm season, and may be 

 yearlong in the subtropics. 



Figure 254 



10a. Spikelets several times longer than wide, ovate in outline 11 



10b. Spikelets nearly circular in outline, falling entire. Fig. 255. 



SLOUGH GRASS Beckmannia syzigachne (Steud.) Fern. 



Aimual; tufted; plants up to 100 cm. tall. 

 The slender, wand-Uke panicles of spikes 

 produce large quantities of wrinkled, cir- 

 cular spikelets which shatter from the 

 plants at a touch. Plants rather tender and 

 succulent; forage value good. Wet mead- 

 ows; shores of ditches and lakes, mostly 

 in the western states. The plants are some- 

 times cut for hay. July — August. 



Figure 255 



135 



