Cynodon
dactylon (Couch) is a common weed species in urban areas. It is
one of the species with the very distinctive habit of the
inflorescence being an erect stalk ending in digitate (i.e. arranged
like fingers) cluster of spikes. The plant forms tough mats with
leafy sections connected by stolons. The leaves are up to 15cm long
and 2-4mm wide. The spikelets are in two rows appressed
to one side of a zig-zag axis of the spike.
Digitaria species also
often have obviously digitate inflorescences, but do not have the
obvious stolons and usually have wider leaves (up to 8mm wide). The common usage of the names couch and cooch are rather confused in
Tasmania - they may refer to Cynodon, but also to
Elytrigia repens. |