Phill. J. Sc., C7: 230 (1912).- Type: LINN-HL84-11, s.l. (lecto- LINN); König s.n., Sri Lanka (iso- L)
Agrostis matrella Linn., Mant. Pl.: 175 (1771);
Zoysia tenuifolia Thiele, Linnaea 9: 309 (1834).- Type : Sieber 40a, Mauritius (isolecto- L).
var. pacifica Goudswaard
Blumea 26: 169-175 (1980); Scholz: 342, fig. 108 (1973).
Regional litterature: FWTA: 413 (1972) ; Gram. Togo: 341, fig. (1983); Poac. CI: 220, fig. (1995); Pl. Burkina Faso: 120 (2012).
Description:
* Weak mat-forming rhizomatous perennial, spreading vigorously by stolons, with wiry, prostate culms up to 25 cm. Leaves involute or convolute, 1- 9 cm long and 0.5-1.5 mm broad, obtuse, fairly flexible; ligule a ciliolate membrane; basal sheaths glabrous.
* Inflorescence a spiciform, solitary raceme of 0.5-1.5 cm long and 1-1.5 mm wide. Spikelets attached obliquely to the short pedicels of 0.3-1 mm long.
* Spikelets lanceolate, laterally compressed, 2-3 mm long, pale, falling entire. Lower glume absent or obscure; upper glume oblong or lanceolate to ovate, 2-3 mm long, usually awnless, sometimes a short awn up to 1 mm long. Lemma oblong, 2 mm long; palea much shorter than the lemma.
Distribution West Africa: Introduced in Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria.
Distribution world-wide: East Asia, introduced in Gabon, India and Central America.