Bermudagrass

Plant Profile
FYSUE 3d Image	Common Name: Bermudagrass Species Name: Cynodon dactylon Plant Type: Grasses & Grass-like Family Name: Poaceae, Grass Family Tribe: Cynodonteae, Gramagrass Tribe

ID Characteristics

Field Identification Characteristics
Vegetative
- Leaves alternating on opposite side of stem
- Rhizomes (below-ground) & stolons (above-ground runners) have leaf scales
- Sod forming
- Hairy ligule
Floral
- Seedhead with 3-11 (usually 5) branches attached at the tip of stem; “windmill” branches
- Spikelets tiny with no awns attached directly to branch along one side
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
- Plant Height: 4-30 centimeters
- Ligule Type: Ciliate
- Sheath: Glabrous or pilose
- Leaves: Basal and cauline
Floral Characteristics
- Inflorescence Type: Digitate panicle with 1 sided, spicate branches
- Florets Per Spikelet: 1
- Glumes: Nearly equal


Habitat/Ecology
Soil Type	Variable; highest growth on sandy and silty soil
Habitat	Adapted to a variety of climatic and edaphic regimes, floodplain
Successional Stage	Early


Uses/Management
Grazing	Highly preferred by cattle, good forage value. Used by other livestock, fair forage value for sheep. Used for pasture in spring and early summer. Forage quality decreases in summer. Anywhere from 8-12% protein content in the Oklahoma and Texas region. Aggressive response to nitrogen fertilization.
Wildlife	Not usually used by many species of wildlife. White-tailed deer will sometimes use it for forage in early spring. Larval host for many species of butterflies. Can decrease the value of wildlife habitat.