Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) is a warm-season species common in temperate and tropical regions. It is valued for its durability as a turfgrass but is also notorious for its aggressive, weed-like encroachment. Accurate identification is the first step in effective lawn management, whether you intend to cultivate or control its spread. Understanding the plant’s specific anatomical features allows homeowners to correctly determine its presence.
Key Features of the Leaf and Collar
A close inspection of the leaf and the area where it meets the stem reveals several defining characteristics. The leaf blades possess a fine texture, measuring 2 to 5 millimeters wide, and typically taper to a sharply pointed tip. Before the leaf unfurls, its structure is distinctly folded in the bud, a characteristic known as folded vernation.
The collar region is the light-colored band where the blade joins the sheath, and it is usually continuous. The margins of the leaf sheath near the collar often display tufts of long hairs. Bermuda grass lacks auricles, which are small ear-like appendages that wrap around the stem.
The most definitive marker is the ligule, a small membrane at the inner junction of the leaf blade and the sheath. On Bermuda grass, this structure is a very short, inconspicuous fringe of white hairs. This hairy ligule, combined with the absence of auricles and the folded leaf vernation, forms a unique set of indicators for positive identification.
Identifying Above and Below-Ground Runners (Stolons and Rhizomes)
Bermuda grass is distinguished by its aggressive, spreading growth habit, utilizing two distinct types of lateral runners. The above-ground runners are called stolons, which are tough, wiry stems that creep along the surface of the soil. Stolons establish new plants by rooting downward at the nodes, allowing the grass to spread rapidly across open ground.
The second type of runner is the rhizome, a thicker, scaly underground stem that facilitates deeper establishment. Rhizomes are white or pale and are typically found in the top one to six inches of soil. These below-ground stems form a resilient mat, making the grass extremely resilient to removal or surface treatments.
Confirming the presence of both surface stolons and subterranean rhizomes strongly verifies the identity of Bermuda grass. This dual-spreading mechanism allows the grass to form a dense, thick turf that quickly recovers from damage.
How to Differentiate Bermuda Grass from Look-Alikes
Many other grasses can be mistaken for Bermuda grass, but focusing on key anatomical and growth habit differences allows for accurate distinction. Crabgrass, a common annual weed, is frequently confused with Bermuda grass, especially in its early stages. However, Crabgrass grows in distinct clumps and lacks the perennial, dual-runner system of stolons and rhizomes.
Zoysia grass is another warm-season grass that, like Bermuda, spreads via stolons, but its leaf structure is different upon close examination. Zoysia blades have a rolled vernation, meaning the leaf emerges rolled, not folded, and the blades are typically much stiffer to the touch. The ligule of Zoysia is also a fringe of hairs, but Zoysia often features distinct, upright hairs on the surface of the leaf blade itself.
Cool-season turf varieties like Tall Fescue are easily differentiated because they are clumping grasses that do not produce any stolons or rhizomes. Fescue has much wider leaf blades and a different ligule structure, often a short, membranous collar without the distinct fringe of hairs seen on Bermuda grass. The combination of the folded vernation, the hairy ligule, and the presence of both above and below-ground runners is unique to Bermuda grass and provides a reliable method for its identification.