620 
CXIII. GRAMINEiE 
37. CYNODON. From the Greek kyon , a dog, and odous, a 
tooth, said to refer to the sharp teeth of the glumes. — Warm and 
temperate regions, most abundant in Australia. 
Cynodon dactylon, Pers. ; FI. Br. Ind. vii. 288. Perennial, 
glabrous ; stems prostrate, often widely creeping and forming 
matted tufts with short, ascending branches. Leaves flat, 1-4 in., 
up to J in. broad. Ligule very short, hairy. Spikelets green or 
purple, awnless, ~ in., 1 -flowered, alternate, not in clusters or 
pairs as in Paspalum, sessile along one side of 2-5 simple, straight, 
flattened branches 1-2 in. long and digitately spreading from near 
