FLoraTeXTM, produced an acceptable level of turf quality over a 2-year period under post oak tree shade. Soil pH Adaptation FLoraTeXTM adaptated to a relatively broad range of soil pH during five years in a NTEP bermudagrass cultivar study at 22 locations in 14 states across southern United States (14). At College Station, Texas, soil pH was periodically elevated as high as 9.2 during mid-summer drought periods when irrigated with water high in sodium. Subsequently, FLoraTeXTM was able to sustain an acceptable level of turf quality at these very high levels of alkalinity. There was no evidence of leaf chlo- rosis as exhibited by some other cultivars. Salinity Tolerance Salinity tolerance was never measured directly, but in Gainesville, Fla., FLoraTeXTM maintained leaf water poten- tials equal to that of 'Tifgreen' and 'Tifdwarf' bermudagrasses (15). The latter cultivars are very salt tolerant (10). Osmo- regulation alone, however, cannot be used as an indicator of salinity tolerance, since growth under saline conditions may be severely inhibited. Morphological Characteristics Morphological components contributing to the turf charac- ter of FLoraTeXTM include a medium-low shoot density, me- dium leaf texture, and relatively rapid leaf extension rate. Unmowed canopy height reaches 3 to 5 inches, depending on environmental and soil conditions. It has a superior rooting depth and mass, ranking as one of the best bermudagrasses. Shoot Density Shoot density of FLoraTeXTM is in a medium to medium- low range. In Texas, a cultivar group having a medium to medium-high shoot density average of 18.4 shoots per square inch included Bayshore, Everglades, Midlawn, Ormond, and Tifway (Table 5). Everglades and Ormond, however, were also included with Arizona Common, FLoraTeXTM, Midiron, Texturf 10, Tufcote, and Vamont in the group having a low shoot den- sity average of 14.6 shoots per square inch. In general, a dense turf is most competitive against weed invasion and may also have improved wear tolerance (5). No relation between shoot density and wear tolerance, however, was found (r=0.317, p=0.54) in this study (Table 5). FLoraTeXTM had superior summer density ratings in a NTEP test (14) compared to Arizona Common, Guymon, and NuMex Sahara. It had summer density ratings equal to Midfield, Midiron, Midlawn, Sonesta, Tufcote, and Vamont. Cultivars, MS-Choice, MS-Express, MS-Pride, Texturf 10, and Tifway had high summer density ratings when averaged over a 5-year test. Leaf Width Leaf width of FLoraTeXTM ranks in a medium range (1 to 2 mm or 0.04 to 0.08 inches) compared to most turfgrasses. It ranked equal to Arizona Common, Bayshore, Everglades, Midiron, Midlawn, Ormond, Texturf 10, Tifway, Tufcote, and Vamont (Table 5). Leaf Extension Rate If a turfgrass has a rapid leaf extension rate, higher labor and energy costs are incurred due to greater mowing frequency. Also, turfgrasses with rapid vertical leaf extension rates tend to have high evapotranspiration rates (13). Comparative leaf extension rates of 11 bermudagrass cultivars grown in Texas under high nitrogen (2 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet per growing month) are shown in Table 5. Cultivars having high leaf extension rate average of 7.3 mm (0.29 inches) per day were Arizona Common, Bayshore, Everglades, FLoraTeXTM, Midiron, Midlawn, Ormond, Tufcote, and Vamont. Tifway had a low leaf extension rate of 5.0 mm (0.20 inches) per day, but Bayshore, Everglades, Ormond, Texturf 10, and Tufcote were also equal to Tifway. Unmowed Canopy Unmowed height of FLoraTeXTM at Gainesville, Fla. in July 1991 was measured by Dudeck to be 4.5 inches after 36 days of regrowth following defoliation. Busey (7) reported its unmowed height as 3 inches at Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Rooting FLoraTeXTM had one of the deepest root systems among commonly used bermudagrasses. FLoraTeXTM bermudagrass produced the greatest dry weight of root mass among 24 bermudagrass cultivars grown in root columns for 210 days under non-limiting moisture conditions in a glasshouse in Texas (4). Root distribution at depths of 1, 2, and 3 feet for FLoraTeXTM was 42, 18, and 14%, respectively, with some roots extending to a 7-foot depth. In contrast, root distribution at same depths for Tifway was 67, 19, and 9%, respectively, with no roots extending beyond a 4-foot depth. Lateral Stem Development FLoraTeXTM and Tifway produced an equal number of sto- lons with an average of 56 per 4-inch plug at 30 days after planting at Gainesville, Fla. (Table 6). However, FLoraTeXTM produced longer stolons which averaged 1.8 inches while Tifway's stolons averaged only 1.2 inches in length. Rate of ground cover produced by FLoraTeXTM and Tifway after 90 days was not different and averaged 40% (Table 6). A 50-day growth period after planting was required to produce 50% ground cover.