Zoysia matrella

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Rhizomes elongated. Stolons present. Culms prostrate; 5–25 cm long; wiry. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform, or linear; flat, or involute; 2–10 cm long; 1–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; multilateral; 0.6–3.5 cm long.

Spikelets ascending; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.3–1 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate to ovate; laterally compressed; 2–3.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny. Upper glume lanceolate to ovate; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0–1 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2–2.5 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex emarginate. Palea 0.5 length of lemma; hyaline; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.4 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical and western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, Malesia, and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia. Pacific: southwestern, south-central, northwestern, and north-central. North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, western South America, and Brazil.

NOTES Cynodonteae. WDC 1996.

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