Zoysia matrella (L.) Merr.

zoysia grass


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

 Distribution of Zoysia matrella in Hawaiʻi.

Inflorescence

Zoysia matrella Inflorescence
Zoysia matrella Inflorescence
Zoysia matrella Inflorescence
Zoysia matrella Inflorescence
Zoysia matrella Inflorescence
Zoysia matrella Inflorescence
Zoysia matrella Inflorescence
Zoysia matrella Inflorescence
Zoysia matrella Inflorescence

Plant

Zoysia matrella Plant
Zoysia matrella Plant
Zoysia matrella Plant
Zoysia matrella Plant

Habit

Zoysia matrella Habit
Zoysia matrella Habit
Zoysia matrella Habit
Zoysia matrella Habit
Zoysia matrella Habit
Zoysia matrella Habit
Zoysia matrella Habit
Zoysia matrella Habit
Zoysia matrella Habit
Zoysia matrella Habit

Rhizomes

Zoysia matrella Rhizomes
Zoysia matrella Rhizomes
Zoysia matrella Rhizomes
Zoysia matrella Rhizomes
Zoysia matrella Rhizomes
Zoysia matrella Rhizomes
Zoysia matrella 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. )