Zoysia matrella (L.) Merrill

Gramineae

Synonyms

• Agrostis matrella L. (1771)
• Zoysia pungens Willd. (1801)
• Zoysia tenuifolia Willd. ex Thiel (1834)

Common names

Manila grass, Siglap grass, Korean grass (En). Mascarene grass (Am). Chiendent gazon (Fr). Indonesia: jukut kakawatan hijau (Sundanese), rebha sekem-sekeman (Madura), burikit (Ceram). Malaysia: rumput siglap. Philippines: damong-alat, barit-baritan (Tagalog), malakuwerdas (Pangasinan). Singapore: Siglap grass. Thailand: ya-nuannoi.

Origin and geographic distribution

Manila grass occurs naturally along the coasts of the Indian Ocean, the Chinese Sea to the Ryukyu Islands, and particularly in all South-East Asian countries. Now it is extensively cultivated pantropically (also inland).

Description

A mat-forming perennial, often stoloniferous, rarely rhizomatous, up to 35 cm high. Stolons to 45 cm long. Leaf-sheath hairy at the throat; ligule membranous and finely hairy, ca. 0.25 mm long; leaf-blade lanceolate, up to 8 cm x 3 mm when expanded, erectopatent to patent, base more or less cordately contracted into a short pseudo-petiole. Inflorescence a terminal, spike-like raceme, up to 4 cm long, rachis somewhat wavy; pedicels 0-3 mm long; spikelets ovoid-oblongoid, 2-3.8 mm x 1 mm; lower glume usually absent, upper glume 5-nerved; palea absent. Caryopsis with a straight truncate base. There is considerable variation in growth habit, rhizome development and the shape of spikelets. Two varieties are distinquished:
- var. matrella: leaf-blade 1.5-2.6 mm wide, more or less spreading; peduncle exerted from the uppermost sheath at anthesis, the raceme distinctly exerted above the foliage, up to 4.2 cm long; distribution as above.
- var. pacifica: leaf-blade 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 Moluccas (Goudswaard 1980; Manidool 1992).

Products & uses

Manila grass is used as forage on sandy soils in coastal areas where other grasses are not adapted. It is a good sand-binder and several cultivars have been released for lawns.

Ecology

Z. matrella can grow up to 300 m altitude, but is primarily adapted to very sandy soils on coastal areas. It is shade tolerant and often found covering the ground under coconut plantations on sandy coastal soils. Z. matrella is adapted to wet and saline sites (Wang 1995).

Propagation and planting

It is easily established vegetatively.

Growth and development

Seedling growth is slow but after 5-8 weeks strong new shoots send out tough stolons leading to the formation of a turf mat.

Performance

Frequent grazing is required to stimulate the growth of young leaves, which are palatable to stock. It is low yielding and not suited to cutting for forage. It is grazed in coconut plantations (Wong et al. 1988). When used as a lawn grass it is frequently mown to keep it weed-free and green.

Links

• Zoysiagrass:origins of Zoysiagrasses
• Texas Agricultural Extension Service: very detailed description of genus Zoysia and information on different Zoysia species
• Zoysia matrella: short information with photo

Links for the genus

• Grass Genera of the World: description, distribution, economic importance and references on Zoysia

References

Goudswaard P.C. (1980); Manidool C. (1992); Wang J.H. (1995); Wong C.C.et al. (1988)