What Is the Meaning of Durva Grass?

Description

• Durva grass, a widespread turfgrass used for lawns, athletic fields and parks in India, South America and the Southeastern U.S., lives longer than two years, making it a perennial plant. Durva reproduces by stolons and rhizomes, shoots and stems that grow underground or horizontally along the surface, in addition to seeds. Erect blades grow between 2 to 15 inches long. The flower cluster consists of three to seven spikes in a 1- to 4-inch long whorl.

Importance

• Durva grass plays an important role in many Indian spiritual and religious rituals. Participants in rituals, such as homa, a sacrifice to fire, often wear rings made from durva grass, according to "The Times of India." Believers impute purifying powers to the grass and, in addition to wearing it, also bring it as an offering to certain temples. Indians began using durva grass, as a component of their spiritual beliefs, over 3,500 years ago.

Medicinal

• Durva grass, along with its religious significance, also has an accepted place in the medicinal culture of India. Practitioners of herbal medicine use the crushed leaves to staunch minor wounds. Proponents of durva grass' medicinal powers advise that people suffering from weak eyesight walk barefoot on dew-covered grass daily. Homeopathic medicine also promotes durva grass' ability to heal, using it to treat skin conditions.

Growing Conditions

• Durva grass flourishes in tropical or subtropical areas, such as India and Africa. Temperatures that drop below 30 degrees Fahrenheit often kill the grass, according to turfgrass expert Richard L. Duble. It can withstand night temperatures of 34 degrees, as long as daylight temperatures reach 70 degrees. However, consistent average daily temperatures below 50 degrees can result in poor growth and loss of color. Growth resumes when daily temperatures once again start averaging above 50 degrees.