Cynodon dactylon

Species common name: Green couch (Australia), Bermuda grass (USA).

Cultivar/accession name: FB-119

Trademark: FLoraTeX

A vegetative off-type of ´Franklin´ from New Orleans, Louisiana; tested by breeder AA Baltensperger. ´Franklin´ was introduced into the United States from South Africa in 1954 - originally a selection from a mealybug-infested putting green in Natal. There is an element of doubt surrounding the accuracy of the origin of FB-119, due to vegetative contamination and misplacement of mother stock at the New Orleans research facility. The cultivar was released jointly by the University of Florida and the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station under the trademark FLoraTeX in the US in 1993.

One licensed grower in Australia. Product is at pre-release stage.

Widely available from licensed commercial growers in the US and subject to a certification scheme.

None, but the name FLoraTeX has trademark protection in the US.

Texture: Medium.

Description: Emerald green leaves. Medium leaf width 1-2 mm. Medium to medium-low shoot density (approximately 200 shoots per square decimetre). Heavy seed head production in spring. Can be very deep rooted.

Use: Cemeteries, golf course fairways and roughs, lawns (residential/commercial/industrial), parkland and sports fields.

Mowing height: Ranges from 20 mm to 35 mm, with an optimum mowing height of 25 mm.

Method of propagation: Vegetative sod, sprigging of stolons.

Preferred soil types: Best on well drained fertile soils of finer texture. Tolerant of a wide range of soil pH, with an adaption to alkaline soils (peaking at pH 9.2) without yellowing.

Low nitrogen requirement. This, combined with drought tolerance, has led to FB-119 being widely used as a low-maintenance species in the southern US. Other cultivars have higher turf quality under intensively managed conditions.

Produces prolific seed heads in spring, including some viable seed, which potentially could contaminate the turfgrass with off-types. This can be managed with timely mowing and fertiliser application.

Heat: Excellent in high and low humidity areas.

Cold: Excellent winter colour retention and early green-up in spring.

Shade: Poor. Unsuited to dense shaded conditions.

Drought: Excellent drought tolerance with the ability to avoid dehydration. Deep and well developed root system.

Salinity: High salinity tolerance relative to other Cynodon dactylon cultivars in screening trials by the former Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, giving comparable results to US-based trials on this cultivar. Suitable for planting on moderately saline sites, but other more salt-tolerant (halophytic) turf species (e.g. Paspalum vaginatum) required for more highly saline sites. Can be irrigated with recycled water.

Wear: Good wear tolerance.

Herbicide sensitivity: As per other Cynodon dactylon.

Resistant to dollar spot (caused by Sclerotinia homoeocarpa).