Cynodon dactylon
Bermuda Grass
a perennial evergreen member of the Cynodon genus in the family Gramineae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Bermuda grass is reported to be photosensitizing in animals[5]. Under certain environmental conditions the plant can produce hydrocyanic acid and so is potentially toxic to livestck[7]. The plant is also said to cause contact dermatitis and, with its high production of pollen, can be a major cause of hayfever[5][7].
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Bermudagrass is reported to be alterative, anabolic, antiseptic, aperient, astringent, cyanogenetic, demulcent, depurative, diuretic, emollient, sudorific, and vulnerary[5]. A decoction of the root is used as a diuretic in the treatment of dropsy and secondary syphilis[3]. An infusion of the root is used to stop bleeding from piles[3][4]. The juice of the plant is astringent and is applied externally to fresh cuts and wounds[3]. When mixed with the powder of a clove (Syzygium aromaticum), it is used as an anthelmintic[6]. Internally, it is used in the treatment of chronic diarrhoea and dysentery[3][4]. It is also useful in the treatment of catarrhal ophthalmia[3][4]. The juice is also diuretic and is used in the treatment of dropsy and anasarca[3][4]. The leaf juice has also been used in the treatment of hysteria, epilepsy and insanity[3][4]. The plant is a folk remedy for anasarca, calculus, cancer, carbuncles, convulsions, cough, cramps, cystitis, diarrhoea, dropsy, dysentery, epilepsy, headache, haemorrhage, hypertension, hysteria, insanity, kidneys, laxative, measles, rubella, snakebite, sores, stones, tumours, uro-genital disorders, warts, and wounds[5].
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Ophthalmic
- Product or use
- Anthelmintic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Plants are sometimes grown as a cover for warm sunny banks and are sometimes used for lawns[2][5]. They stay green even in hot and dry weather[5]. Plants give complete ground cover in 4-8 weeks when planted 30-45 cm apart[5]. They succeed on most soil types and requires very little mowing on poor soils[5]. Valuable for soil conservation due to its long runners that root at the nodes[5]. Plants are used to produce biomass. Annual productivity ranges from 4 to 52 tonnes per hectare[5].
- Product or use
- Biomass
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Soil surface
Environment
- Range
- Britain. A cosmopolitan plant, found in most tropical to warm temperate regions.
- Habitat
- Sandy shores in southern Britain[1].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 7+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
- Soil pH
- very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
- Salinity
- tolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out into their permanent positions in late spring. There are almost 4,000,000 seeds per kilo[5]. Division in late spring. Very simple, plants can be propagated easily from rooted sideshoots, establishing quickly when planted straight into the soil[5].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a warm sunny position in a well-drained soil[2]. The plant can grow in very diverse conditions of soil and moisture, withstanding drought well and also tending to eliminate other plants[5]. It spreads quite rapidly, rooting at the nodes, becoming difficult to eradicate and can be a serious weed in cultivated land[5]. Bermudagrass is reported to tolerate an annual precipitation of 9 to 429cm, an annual temperature range of 5.9 to 27.8°C, and a pH in the range of 4.3 to 8.4. Reported from the Hindustani Centre of Diversity, Bermudagrass, or cvs thereof, is reported to tolerate alkali soil conditions, disease, drought, frost, grazing, herbicide, heavy metal, heavy soil, insects, laterite, nematodes, peat, poor soil, salt, sand, atmospheric pollution, ultraviolet, virus, water-logging and weeds[5]. It is unproductive in poor dry soils and is best adapted to relatively fertile, well-drained soils with a pH of 6.0-7.0, in humid areas. Plants withstand long periods of drought, as they produce little growth in dry weather[5]. This species is hardy to about -10°c[2]. Plants vary greatly in habit according to soil and climate, and occur in several natural strains which differ widely in size, colour (bright, yellow-green to dull blue-green), texture of stars and leaves, size of spikes, and grazing value. Most varieties are poor seeders and are propagated by their creeping stem. Bermudagrass can form dense cover in almost pure stands, practically anywhere. Abundant as a weed along roadsides, in lawns, on sandy wastes, along sand dunes, and readily takes possession of any uncultivated area[5].
References
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00
Medicinal Plants of Nepal Dept. of Medicinal Plants. Nepal. 1993-00-00
Duke. J. Handbook of Energy Crops - 1983-00-00
Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6
Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm