Zoysia

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes absent (3), or elongated (6). Stolons absent (5), or present (4). Culms decumbent (1/3), or prostrate (2/3); 1.5–16.25–50 cm long; firm (7), or wiry (2). Lateral branches lacking (1/2), or sparse (1/2), or ample (1/2). Ligule a ciliate membrane (3), or a fringe of hairs (6). Leaf-blades filiform (4), or linear (6), or lanceolate (2); herbaceous (8), or coriaceous (1); stiff (3), or firm (6). Leaf-blade apex muticous (7), or pungent (2).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes (8), or comprising only a few spikelets (2); subtended by an unspecialized leaf-sheath (8), or an inflated leaf-sheath (1); exserted (8), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (1).

Racemes single (8/8); linear (7/8), or lanceolate (2/8); multilateral (8/8); bearing few fertile spikelets (1/8), or many spikelets (7/8); bearing 3–12 fertile spikelets on each (1/2). Spikelet packing crowded (2/8), or contiguous (5/8), or lax (1/8).

Spikelets appressed (1/5), or ascending (4/5); solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear (1/3), or oblong (1/3), or cuneate (1/3); tip widened (1/1).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate (4), or elliptic (4), or oblong (2), or ovate (2); laterally compressed; 2–3.964–8 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets (1), or exceeding apex of florets (8); firmer than fertile lemma. Upper glume lanceolate (4), or elliptic (3), or oblong (1), or ovate (5); 1–1.116–1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous (1), or coriaceous (8); without keels (8), or 1-keeled (1); 1 -veined (1/5), or 3 -veined (2/5), or 5 -veined (1/5), or 7 -veined (1/5). Upper glume surface smooth (8), or asperulous (1); glabrous (7), or puberulous (2). Upper glume apex entire (8), or erose (1); obtuse (2), or acute (7); muticous, or mucronate (3), or awned (2); 1 -awned (2/2).

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate (2), or elliptic (2), or oblong (6), or ovate (1); hyaline (8), or membranous (1); without keel (8), or keeled (1); wingless; 1 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex entire (8), or erose (1); emarginate (3/4), or obtuse (1/4); muticous (8), or mucronate (1). Palea present (8), or absent or minute (1); 0.5–0.7–0.9 length of lemma; hyaline (4/8), or membranous (4/8); 0 -veined (2/2); without keels (6/8), or 2-keeled (2/8).

FLOWER Lodicules absent (1/1). Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (1/1); ellipsoid (1/1).

DISTRIBUTION Africa (1), or Temperate Asia (5), or Tropical Asia (3), or Australasia (4), or Pacific (2), or North America (1), or South America (1).

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.