Zoysia matrella

Z. matrella grows as a low, rhizomatous, perennial grass. Prostrate culms grow 5 cm in height (Tsuruta et al. 2011) but sometimes to 35 cm long (FAO, 2015, Clayton et al., 2016). Leaves grow stiffly with the blades often curled, 3-8 cm long and 1.5-2.5 mm wide. The leaf sheaths are smooth with a membranous ligule and hairy throat (Flora of China Editorial Committee, 2016, Clayton et al., 2016). The inflorescences are terminal with spike-like racemes up to 4 cm long. Spikelets yellowish brown to purplish brown, 10-30, loosely overlapping. The lower glume is usually absent, the upper glume is lanceolate, 5-veined with a prominent midrib. The lemma is oblong-ovate, 2-2.5 mm and the palea is lanceolate, half as long as the lemma (Flora of China Editorial Committee, 2016).;Z. matrella var. pacifica is distinguished by, Òleaf-blades 0.7-1 mm wide, usually erect, peduncle not or hardly exerted from the uppermost sheath, the raceme therefore not or little exerted above the foliage, up to 1.5 cm long, distribution: Taiwan to the Ryukyu Islands and Loo Choo Island, Marianas, Solomons and in the MoluccasÓ (Ô FAO, 2015).