Indian Bluegrass
Scientific name: Bothriochloa pertus, Syn. Andropogon pertusus
Other names: Species common name Indian bluegrass, Indian couch grass
Characteristics: Indian bluegrass or Indian couch grass grows best in a warm climate and has become naturalised in central and drier areas of northern Queensland. It is a very drought hardy plant growing within an annual rainfall range of 500-900 mm. It is suited to well-drained loam and clay soils, but will also grow better than most other grasses on difficult to manage, forest soils.
Cultivar name: Dawson
Origin: Selected by the then Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government from 128 lines of B. pertusa in a Queensland-based multisite evaluation programme. Identified as a potential turf variety due to its low growth, rapid stolon development, dense ground cover and wide adaptation.
Global growing areas: Sold as seed in Australia, however this is frequently in short supply. Suited to dry tropical and subtropical environments.
IP Protection: Australian PBR certificate #208 (18 November 1992)
Details
- Texture: Fine-medium
- Description: Forms a dense mat. Horizontal stems (stolons) are fine and red. Weakly tufted. Blue-green leaf blades are 1.5-8.5 cm long and 1.5-2.5 mm wide. Fine sparse hairs on the upper leaf surface, moderately dense hairs on the lower leaf surface. There are no hairs on the leaf edge.
- Use: Commercial and residential lawns, sports fields, parks, site rehabilitation and land conservation, roadside verges, orchard inter-rows, country air strips.
- Mowing height: 15-30 mm
- Method of propagation: Sold commercially as seed. May be propagated using plugs or runners.
- Preferred soil types: Adapted to a wide range of coarse to fine-textured well drained soils. Neutral to slightly alkaline soils preferred.
Comments
- Tolerant of short periods of water-logging.
- Does not require as high a level of nitrogen and phosphorous as does green couch.
- ´Dawson´ is late (winter) flowering compared with other Bothriochloa pertusa forms such as ´Medway´, ´Emerald´ and ´Bowen´ and presents with fewer and less conspicuous seed heads than these varieties.
- Particularly suited to Central Queensland and sub-humid areas of Northern Queensland.
- Performs well in Southern Queensland.
Tolerances
- Heat: Good heat tolerance.
- Cold: Surface growth is killed by frost, but the grass will recover if the temperature stays above 6oC.
- Shade: Poor. Tolerates light shade, but prefers full sun.
- Drought: Moderate drought tolerance.
- Salinity: Unknown. Other ecotypes are naturalised on coastal foreshore areas.
- Wear: Good wear tolerance.
- Herbicide sensitivity: This cultivar is included in DEEDI´s phytotoxicity testing site for warm season turfgrasses. Sensitive to some of the herbicides studied, however this information is currently withheld under contract arrangements with chemical companies. To be advised.
- Pests and diseases: Resistant to rust (Puccinia duthiae). Less prone to armyworm (Spodoptera sp.) and other moth larvae than blue couch (Digitaria didactyla).
Photos used on this page are not necessarily photos from DEEDI
For more information and updates on warm season turfgrasses, their production and management please go to http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/turf
For updates on Indian Bluegrass - Dawson please go to http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/26_17446.htm
