Zoysia macrostachya

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 12–40 cm long; 1–1.2 mm diam.; 10–17 -noded. Culm-internodes 1–6 cm long. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded; 2–3 mm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; involute; 2–7 cm long; 3–5 mm wide; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or puberulous; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes 1; single; lanceolate; multilateral; 2–3.5 cm long; 5–9 mm wide. Spikelet packing crowded.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–2 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6–8 mm long; 1.8–2.2 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny. Upper glume lanceolate, or elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; without keels. Upper glume surface puberulous; hairy at apex. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex acute; muticous, or mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3.8–4.2 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 1 -veined. Palea without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2–2.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1.8–2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Ohwi 1993.

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