S4 
A Handbook of Nebraska Grasses. 
CYNODON. 
49. Cynodon dactylon. Bermuda Grass. (Fig. 58.) 
A creeping perennial that grows readily in poor, sandy 
soils where other grasses will not thrive. It is very widely 
cultivated in the South and should prove useful as a sand- 
binding grass in many places. It is extensively grown as 
a lawn grass in the South and is propagated thru the use 
of pieces of the sod. 
DACTYLIS. 
50. Dactylis glomerata. Orchard Grass. (Fig. 73.) 
ol, 
A valuable perennial introduced grass often found 
escaped from cultivation. It is a bunch grass and makes a 
rapid, early growth, producing an excellent quality of hay. 
Its common name is based upon the ability of the grass 
to make a good growth in shady situations. To counteract 
its well-known tendency to form tussocks, often consider- 
ably raised above the ground, it should be sown with some 
other grass, preferably awnless brome grass or meadow 
fescue. It cannot be recommended for the drier soils of 
western Nebraska. 
DESCHAMPSIA. 
Deschampsia flexuosa. Wood Hair Grass. (Fig. 56.) 
A slender, erect, native perennial of little value except 
in woodland pastures as it grows well in shaded ground. 
It yields an inferior coarse forage which, when young, is 
eaten by stock. It shows a tendency to form tussocks. 
DIARRHENA. 
52. Diarrhena diandra. (Fig. 66.) 
In moist shaded places in eastern Nebraska. 
DIGITARIA. 
53. Digitaria sanguinalis. Crab Grass. (Fig. 21.) 
54. 
This is a well-known introduced annual often found in 
cultivated fields and constituting, particularly in eastern 
Nebraska, one of our worst lawn weeds. During the latter 
part of the season it makes a very rapid growth and may 
take absolute possession of a lawn. It is less common in 
the western counties. 
DISTICHLIS. 
Distichlis spicata. Salt Grass. (Fig. 73.) 
This is an erect wiry grass with an extensive svstem of 
