Bermuda grass lawns are common in Southern California.  It is relatively easy to maintain, and makes a tough lawn for playing fields, parks, and other places where the lawn is used for more than looks.  But when it sneaks into gardens or irrigation canals its name is changed to devilgrass.

In my yard, bermuda grass grows deep and soft, like a tumbling mat.  A good play area for kids and grand kids.  I've always thought that a yard where kids have to stay off the grass is a waste space.

These stolons, long stems growing along the ground, may be several feet long.  Any place a node of the stem touches soil it can put down roots and become a clone.

Here are the flowers of the Bermuda grass.  They don't look like much, but since they are polinated by wind, looks and smell don't matter.  Those who are allergic to grasses wnat to cut the lawn before it flowers.

This is the underground stolon, it burrows hoizontally for long distances, and as much as 6 inches deep.  Every node is capable sprouting both roots and shoots.  This is what earned it the name "devilgrass, especially when te stolons intertwine among the roots of prize garden plants.

   [Classification, Taxonomy]

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