| Cynodon
dactylon (couchgrass) 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.
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University of Tasmania
