Zoysia japonica

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Rhizomes elongated. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms 5–15 cm long; 0.2–0.3 mm diam.; 3–6 -noded. Culm-internodes 1.5–3 cm long. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 2.5–6 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; linear; multilateral; 2–8 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Spikelet packing crowded.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels curved; 3–4 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 2.5–3.5 mm long; 1.2–1.5 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; without keels. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; 2.5–3 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 1 -veined. Palea without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet far east, China, and eastern Asia.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Ohwi 1993.

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