CY1STODON. 157 



X 



Name derived from the Greek Tcjnos a dog, and 

 odontos a tooth. 



1. Cynodon Dactylon (Bermuda Grass, Scutch 

 Grass. 



SPECIFIC CIIAEACTEK. 



Spikes four or five, crowded together, corolla 

 smooth. 



StnitJi's Eng. Flora. 



Observations. The roots are tough and creeping, 

 almost woody, with smooth files ; stems also creep- 

 ing to a great extent, matted, round, jointed, leafy, 

 very smooth ; leaves tapering, sharp-pointed, ribbed, 

 hairy, a little glaucous, with long, striated, smooth 

 sheaths, and a hairy stipulse ; spikes four or five, 

 linear, flowers purplish, shining, ranged in two close, 

 alternate rows ; the corolla is longer than the calyx, 

 very much compressed, opposite. 



This celebrated East India grass was first brought 

 to notice by the experiments made with it in the ex- 

 perimental grass garden at Woburn Abbey, the 

 seeds being forwarded from India, by the Marquis of 

 Hastings for that purpose. 



The experiments made with this and the English 

 species (Panicum Dactylon) showed that the India 

 species flowered freely every season, whereas the 

 native English plants flowered very seldom. 



It has not received much attention from English 

 agriculturists since its introduction, as it scarcely 

 begins to vegetate in the climate of England till the 

 month of June, and its produce and nutritive powers 

 are inferior to other favorite grasses. 



