196 



GRASSES OF IOWA. 



description*. 



Bermuda Grass. 

 Stems prostrate and ex- 

 tensively creeping, with 

 numerous, ascending or 

 upright, leafy and 

 flower-bearing branches. 

 Sheaths smooth, hairy at 

 the throat. Leaves flat, 

 widely spreading, grad- 

 ually tapering to a very 

 slender, acute tip. Spike- 

 lets three to five, slender, 

 widely spreading, often 

 purplish, i to 2 inches 

 (2-4 cm.) long. Flower- 

 ing glume broadly boat- 

 shaped, about 1 line (2 

 mm.) long, usually ciliate 

 on the keel. Widely 

 dispersed in the southern 

 States. June to October. 



Occurs as a cultivated 

 plant only. It was 

 cultivated in Iowa in 

 1889 and 1890 and per- 

 sisted one season. Since 

 then it has not been found. 



Fig. 139. Cynodon Daclylon—a., spikelet ; b, flower- 

 ing glumes. (Div. Agros. U. S. Dept. Agrl. ) 



DISTRIBUTION*. 



Iowa. Ames, cult. (Pammel) ; Sioux City, cult. (Bandusia Wake- 

 field). 



North America. From New York, south along the Atlantic coast, 

 through Tennessee, South Carolina (A. P. Anderson), Louisiana (Ball, 

 1); west through Alabama and Texas;Cuba (Santa Clara Province, 

 Combs, 540) ; also along the Pacific coast, California (Santa Barbara, 

 Parry, 1876; Orcutt), as far north as Vancouver Island. 



General. Great Britain to Holland southward ; Asia, Africa and 

 Australia. 



