Phill. J. Sc., C7: 230 (1912).- Type: Koenig 56 LINN 84-11, Malabar, India (lecto- LINN; isolecto- L).
Agrostis matrella Linn., Mant. Pl.: 175 (1771);
Zoysia tenuifolia Thiele, Linnaea 9: 309 (1834).- Type : Sieber 40a, Mauritius (lecto- B destr; isolecto- BM,L).
var. pacifica Goudswaard
Blumea 26: 169-175 (1980).- Type: Hatusima 24127, Japan, Ryukyu (holo- L).
Regional litterature: FWTA: 413 (1972) ; Gram. Togo: 341, fig. 108 (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, 5-25 cm high. 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, coriaceous and shiny, usually awnless, sometimes a short awn up to 1 mm long. Lemma oblong, 2-2.5 mm long, hyaline; palea much shorter than the lemma.
Vernacular names: Manila grass; gazon chinois.
Distribution West Africa: Introduced in Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria.
Distribution world-wide: East Asia, introduced in Gabon, India and C America.