General: Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) is an invasive turf grass commonly grown for lawns. The plant grows low with creeping runners (stolons) and upright stems with short, alternate leaves. The flowerhead is umbel-like, usually branching in 4 to 7 branchlets, with two rows of tiny flowers along each branchlet.

Bermudagrass is an uncommon component of vegetation in the Lower Sonoran (Creosote-Bursage Flats) and Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub) life zones. Look for this species around the edges of town and at Corn Creek on the Desert National Wildlife Range in places where it might get some moisture during the warn season.

Family: Grass (Poaceae).

Other Names: quickgrass, couch grass, devil's grass.

Plant Form: Perennial turf grass with stems that grow from stolons.

Height: Stems and flowerheads to about 18 inches.

Stems: Stolons decumbent; stems upright.

Leaves: Alternate, linear; sheath open; ligule membranous or hairy; blade short (to about 3 inches), flat, and narrow.

Flowers: Inflorescence umbel-like; 4 to 7 branchlets. Two rows of tiny flowers along each branchlet, but growing only on one side of the branchlet.

Habitat: Lawns, weedy fields, roadsides, orchards, disturbed sites. This warm-season grass requires water during the warm season.

Elevation: To about 3,000 feet.

Distribution: Most of the US and parts of Canada and Mexico; native to Africa.

Comments: This species is an invasive weed in natural areas and is listed as a Noxious Weed in California and Utah. This species can be confused with the native Saltgrass, but the flowerheads are quite different.