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PASTORAL AND AGRICULTURAL BOTANY 



Bermuda Grass (Cynodon Dactylon). It is the most common and most 

 valuable pasture grass of the southern states filling the same relative place 

 in that region that Kentucky blue grass does in more northern states. 

 It is a perennial grass spreading by runners, or by rootstocks, and is pro- 

 pagated also by seeds. The runners vary in length from a few inches to 

 three or four feet, creeping over the ground and rooting at the joints 

 (Fig. 62). The blades of the leaves are narrow, flat, one to four inches 

 long, each with a ring of white hairs at the base. The slender flower 

 spikes are formed three to six in a cluster radiating out from a common 

 stalk in a digitate manner. Each spike is one to two inches long. 



FIG. 61. Seaside oat (Uniola paniculata) on dune at Wrightsville Beach, Wilming- 

 ton, N. C., August 6, 1911. 



Origin. Bermuda grass is probably a native of India having been 

 introduced to America somewhere about 1807, and it is now common in 

 the southern states from Virginia to Florida westward to Arizona and 

 California. In Australia, it is commonly known as couch, or Indian 

 couch. It grows best in warm weather bearing the intense heat of summer 

 without injury, but winter kills easily if subjected to heavy freezing. 

 It thrives best on fertile soils not too wet, but better on heavy soils than 

 on light ones. It will grow well on soils so alkaline that most other field 

 crops and fruit crops will fail. 



