Cynodon dactylon
Common name: Couch
Cynodon is from the Greek words cyno, meaning dog, and odontos, meaning tooth. Dactylon is from the Greek word dactylos meaning finger, referring to the finger-like flower spike.
Occurs throughout Australia.
A prostrate perennial commonly used as a lawn grass. The purplish flowers are produced in late spring and summer.
This species is originally from Africa and southern Europe. There is conflicting information as to whether it is native to northern Australia.
Grazing stock has died after eating large quantities of young couch, as these are high in cyanide.
Western Weeds, A Guide to the Weeds of Western Australia. BMJ Hussey, GJ Keighery, J Dodd, SG Lloyd, RD Cousens. 1997.
Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings, a Glossary. FA Sharr. 1996.
Flora of the Perth Region. NG Marchant, JR Wheeler, BL Rye, EM Bennett, NS Lander, TD Macfarlane. 1987.
Description and key to the identification of Grasses in South-Western Australia. JG Paterson. 1992.
Atlas of Living Australia https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2915319
Florabase https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/283