Scientific name: Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.

Synonyms : Panicum dactylon L.; Cynodon dactylon var. pulchellus F. Muell. ex Beuth.

Common name:Couch, green couch, Bermuda grass

Family: Poaceae

Origin:

Native of Australia.

Habit:

Perennial grass with creeping wiry stems, produces rhizomes and runners. Flowering stems are to 30 cm tall.

Habitat:

Although native to Australia, couch is considered a widespread weed of tended areas. It is also cultivated as a very useful pasture and lawn grass.

General description:

Stems and leaves

Stems are wiry and prostrate, rooting at the nodes. Stems are erect or bent like a knee, up to 30 cm tall. Leaves have a membranous appendage (ligule) 0.2 mm long with a row of short hairs and longer hairs at the ends. Leaf blades are linear - triangular, 1.5-15 x 0.2-0.4 cm, gradually narrowing to the pointed tip. Margins of leaves are slightly rough to the touch, the surfaces of the leaves can have a few hairs or be totally hairless.

Flowers and fruit

The inflorescence is a whorl of 2-6 spikes, each 2-5 cm long, carried at t he top of a 30 cm stalk. Seeds are oblong and more or less cylindrical.

Distinguishing characteristics:

A perennial grass with prostrate stems producing runners and rhizomes. Leaves are hairless or sparsely hairy with a membranous ligule and a slightly rough texture. Inflorescence is a whorl of 2-6 spikes, each 2-5 cm long on stalk up to 30 cm long.

Noxious status:

Not noxious.

Sources:

Kleinschmidt, H.E., Holland, A. and Simpson, P. (1996). Suburban Weeds. 3rd Edition. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

Stanley, T.E. and Ross, E.M. (1983-1989). Flora of South-eastern Queensland. Volume 3. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

Anonymous. (1994). Queensland Vacsular Plants: Names and Distribution. Queensland Herbarium, Brisbane.