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Info
Subfamily: Chloridoideae
Genus etymology: Zoysia = honorific for Karl von Zois zu Laibach 1756–1800
Species etymology: matrella = "small mother" [Latin] unclear
Photosynthetic type: C4 (warm season)
Nativity: naturalized - intentional
First recorded in Hawaiʻi: 1984
Map
Inflorescence
Plant
Habit
Rhizomes
Description
Perennial, stoloniferous, mat-forming, also with shallow underground rhizomes. Culms up to 20 cm tall. Leaf sheaths glabrous, bearded at mouth with 4–5 mm hairs; leaf blades flat or involute, tough, suberect to spreading, 3–8 cm, 1.5–2.5 mm wide, glabrous or adaxial surface thinly pilose, apex acute. Inflorescence linear, 2–4 × 0.2–0.3 cm, exserted above leaves; spikelets 10–30, loosely overlapping; rachis somewhat wavy; pedicels shorter than spikelet, 1–3 mm, widened at apex. Spikelets 2–3 × ca. 1 mm, yellowish brown or purplish brown; lower glume usually absent; upper glume lanceolate, 5-veined, midrib prominent, sometimes scabrous toward apex, lateral veins obscure, apex obtuse; lemma oblong-ovate, 2–2.5 mm, obscurely 3-veined, midvein sometimes shortly excurrent; palea lanceolate, 1/2 as long as lemma. Anthers 1–1.5 mm. Caryopsis ca. 1.5 mm. Fl. and fr. Jul–Oct. 2n = 20, 40.
(Description source: Wu, Z.Y., Raven, P.H. & Hong, D.Y. (eds.). 2006. Flora of China. Volume 22. Poaceae. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis. 733 pp. )