C. DACTYLON, PERS. BERMUDA GRASS. 163 



C. Dactylon, Pers. Bermuda, Wire or Scutch Grass. Spikes 

 3-5, seldom seeding, but spreading rapidly by stout rootstocks. 

 This grass belongs to southern Europe and to many other warm 

 climates, and is a perennial, thriving from Michigan southward. 

 The stems are low and come from extensively creeping root- 

 stocks, which also penetrate the ground to the depth of three to 

 six inches. The top spreads into several branches, somewhat re- 

 sembling crab grass, an annual too common in neglected gar- 

 dens. The leaves are short. 



This grass is said to be celebrated in the sacred Vedas as the 

 shield of India, and preserver of nations, as without it the cattle 

 would perish. 



For the Northern States it is of no value, starting very late in 

 spring, with the leaves barely an inch high when meadow foxtail 

 is in flower, but for permanent pasture in warm countries it is 

 highly prized, standing heat and dry weather remarkably well. 

 It rarely ripens seed in the United States, but may be propa- 

 gated by washing the rootstocks, running them through a cut- 

 ting machine and then sowing broad-cast. 



Like quack grass, it is a terrible pest in field crops, where its 

 deep, stout rootstocks make it hard to kill. Thorough cultiva- 

 tion will kill; if not pastured, June grass, cow peas, or other 

 rapid growing plants will shade and choke it out. 



The following is from Killebrew: " In the South it has been 

 the chief reliance for pasture for a long time. It revels on sandy 

 soils, and is used extensively on the southern rivers to hold the 

 levees and the embankments of the roads. It forms a sward so 

 tough it is almost impossible for a plow to pass through it. It 

 will run down the sides of the deepest gully and stop its wash- 

 ing. It has the capacity to withstand any amount of heat and 

 droughts, and droughts that are so dry as to check the growth of 



FIG. 75. Cvnodon Dactylon (Bermuda Grass) ; o, Plant with rootstock ; c, dorsal 

 view of spike ; e, front view ; /, spikelet ; d, pistil and lodicules ; b, ligule. (Rieshen- 

 bach.) 



