Eremochloa ophiuroides - Flora of Qatar

Centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) is a warm season lawn grass that is thick sod forming, uniform growing, and medium to light green colored. It has a coarse texture with short upright stems that grow to about 3-5 inches and spread by stolons.[+]

Centipedegrass is a low maintenance grass. It requires infrequent mowing. Centipedegrass has medium shade tolerance and limited traffic tolerance.

Centipedegrass is shallow rooted and has poor drought tolerance. During summer months soil moisture should be monitored. Centipede grass should only be watered when stressed, and only when the soil can be watered four to six inches.

Centipedegrass survives in mild cold temperatures as long as there aren’t several hard freezes since it doesn’t go into a true dormancy. With light freezes it will turn brown but recover and re-green as the temperature rises.

Centipedegrass does well in sandy and acidic soils. Centipede grass has low fertilization requirements. Too much nitrogen encourages the stolons to grow above the soil instead of on the soil which then reduces its cold and drought tolerance.

When healthy, this full sun and slightly shade tolerant grass is aggressive enough to choke out weeds and other grasses.

Centipedegrass seed is native to Southern China and was introduced to the United States in 1916. It has since become one of the common grasses in the southeastern states and Hawai'i.

Centipede can also be considered a weed.

AI-generated Description

Eremochloa ophiuroides, also known as centipede grass, is a species of grass native to Asia. In Qatar, it has been found to be naturalized and can grow in a variety of environments, including urban areas and disturbed habitats. It is a low-growing, spreading grass that can form dense mats, and is often used as a lawn grass due to its shade tolerance and drought resistance.

AI-generated summary of observations

Observations of Eremochloa ophiuroides in Qatar reveal its presence in various locations, including near Majlis Al Taawon Street in West Bay, Doha. The plant was found growing as a creeping grass, with shoots observed on April 19, 2014. A sample of the grass was taken from a park east of Al Khaliji Bank on June 18, 2015, indicating its establishment in urban areas. The sightings suggest that Eremochloa ophiuroides can thrive in Qatar's environment, potentially as an invasive species or a deliberately introduced plant for landscaping purposes. The observations span over a year, from April 2014 to June 2015, providing insight into the plant's growth and distribution in the region. Overall, the sightings highlight the presence of Eremochloa ophiuroides in Qatar's urban landscape.

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Acknowledgements

QNHG (Qatar Natural History Group) and associated people, for a possibility to participate in their field excursions and to learn about local nature.

Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack.

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Common names

Extract from Wikipedia article