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Cynodon dactylon
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Family:
POACEAE/GRAMINEAE
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Citation: Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Syn. Pl. 1: 85. 1805; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 288. 1896; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 1835(1270). 1934; Manilal & Sivar., Fl. Calicut 339. 1982; Mohanan, Fl. Quilon Dist. 465. 1984; Ansari, Fl. Kasaragod Div. 455. 1985; Ramach. & V.J. Nair, Fl. Cannanore Dist. 532. 1988; Antony, Syst. Stud. Fl. Kottayam Dist. 448. 1989; Babu, Fl. Malappuram Dist. 923. 1990; Vajr., Fl. Palghat Dist. 570. 1990; Sreek. & V.J. Nair, Fl. Kerala Grasses 360. 1991; M. Mohanan & Henry, Fl. Thiruvanthapuram 533. 1994; Sasidh. & Sivar., Fl. Pl. Thrissur For. 510. 1996; Sasidh., Fl. Shenduruny WLS 381. 1997; Sivar. & Mathew, Fl. Nilambur 823. 1997; Sasidh., Fl. Periyar Tiger Reserve 518. 1998; Sasidh., Fl. Parambikulam WLS 388. 2002; Mohanan & Sivad., Fl. Agasthyamala 810. 2002; Anil Kumar et al., Fl. Pathanamthitta 569. 2005; Sunil & Sivadasan, Fl. Alappuzha Dist. 831. 2009; Ratheesh Narayanan, Fl. Stud. Wayanad Dist. 963. 2009.
Panicum dactylon L., Sp. Pl. 58. 1753.
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Malayalam Name(s):
Belikaruka, Balikaruka, Karuka, Karukapullu
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Tamil name(s):
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English name(s):
Bermuda grass, Couch grass, Dog's Tooth grass, Dhub grass, Bahama grass, Hariali grass
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Description:
Slender, stoloniferous creeping perennial herbs. Leaves 1-10 x 0.1-0.5 cm, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, glaucous; sheaths keeled; ligules fimbriate, membranous. Inflorescence of terminal, digitate 3-4 spikes; spikes 1-sided, oblong to 5 cm long. Spikelets sessile, 2-3 mm long, oblong-lanceolate, laterally compressed, 1-flowered. Lower glume 1.5-2 x 0.5 mm, lanceolate, chartaceous,1-nerved; upper glume c. 2 x 0.5 mm, lanceolate, chartaceous, 1-nerved; lemma 2-3 x 1.5-2 mm, boat-shaped, ovate-oblong when spread, keeled; palea 2-2.5 x 0.5-1 mm, boat-shaped or oblong when spread, chartaceous. Stamens 3; anthers 1-1.5 mm long. Ovary c. 0.5 mm long, oblong; stigmas 0.5-1 mm long, pink. Caryopsis 1 mm, linear.
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Habit:
Herb
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Flowering & Fruiting:
March-October
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District(s):
All Districts
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Medicinal:
Yes
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Habitat:
Along banks of backwaters, bunds of paddy fields and wastelands
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Distribution:
Tropical and warm temperate regions of the world
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Aquatic:
No
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Epiphyte(s):
No
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Saprophyte:
No
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Stem parasite:
No
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Root parasite:
No
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Flower colour(s):
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Weed:
No
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Monocot/Dicot:
Monocotyledonous Plants
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Exotic:
No
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Garden:
No
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Edible:
No
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Vegetable:
No
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Endemic to:
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IUCN status:
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Altitude:
500-700
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Localities:
Peechi, Kattalappara, Cheriyakanam, Thellikkal, Moozhiar, Tellicherry, Ambayathode, Karimbam, Munnar, Walayar, Alleppey town, Ambalapuzha, Kuppapuram, Nedumudy, Pallana, Thakazhy, Thanneermukkam, Thottappally, Thrikkunnapuzha, Chengannur, Vaniampuzha, Ma
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