Zoysia matrella (L.) Merr., Poaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Threat only at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Agrostis matrella L., Osterdamia matrella (L.) Kuntze, Zoysia pungens Willd.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chuukese: fatil

English: Korean grass, Manila grass, Manila temple grass, siglap grass, temple grass

French: chiendent gazon

Japanese: sipa

Palauan: siba

Satawalese: fetil

Spanish: hierba Manila

Ulithian: fathil

Habit:  grass

Description:  var. pacifica: "Stoloniferous or shallowly rhizomatous, forming low mats, 3-5 cm high, when crowded up to 10-20 cm.  Stolons or rhizomes wiry, 1-1.5 mm diameter, internodes 1.5-3 cm, branches in small bunches from each node.  Sheaths of branch leaves usually longer than internodes, furrowed, glabrous; ligule a line of very short hairs, ca 0.1 mm, with fine tufts of longer auricular hairs, 1-2 mm; leaf blades linear, long-attenuate, (1.5-) 2-3 (-6) cm x ca 1 mm, often involute, finely furrowed, glabrous.  Inflorescence a narrow, cylindric, spike-like raceme, 1-2.5 cm long, ca 2 mm diameter, rachis irregularly winged, with 15-20 spikelets on appressed pedicels, 0.5-1.5 mm long.  Spikelets ca 2.5 mm, 1-nerved, indurate, glabrous, shiny, margins united in lower half; lemma shorter, 1-nerved, membranous, glabrous, palea not observed.  Lodicules not observed; stamens 3, anthers 1.2-1.5 mm.  Caryopsis not observed.  Protogynous with stigma and anthers exserted through the apical aperture"  (Lægaard & Peterson, 2001).

"It is easily mistaken for Paspalum vaginatum, which becomes much bigger, and for Cynodon dactylon" (Whistler & Steele, 1999; p. 90).

Description from World Grass Species.

Habitat/ecology:  "Cultivated as lawns in the tropical coastal region, sometimes escaped and becoming naturalized" (Lægaard & Peterson, 2001).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  South Pacific and East Asia (Lægaard & Peterson, 2001).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Agrigan (Agrihan) Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) var. matrella
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Agrigan (Agrihan) Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (pp. 14-15) Vouchers cited: Falanruw 2155 (US) var. tenuifolia Fosberg 31581 (US, BISH, Fo)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Agrigan (Agrihan) Island	native	Ohba, T. (1994) (p. 65) Voucher cited: CBM-BS-59079
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Alamagan Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) var. pacifica Goudsw.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Alamagan Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (pp. 14-15) Vouchers cited: Hosokawa 7919 (US), Falanruw 1954 (US); var. tenuifolia Fosberg 31709 (US, BISH, Fo)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Anatahan Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) varieties matrella and pacifica Goudsw.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Anatahan Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (pp. 14-15) var. matrella; var. tenuifolia Vouchers cited: Hosokawa 7857 (Fo), Falanruw 1963 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Asuncion Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (pp. 14-15) Vouchers cited: Falanruw 2285 (US), var. tenuifolia Falanruw 2287 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Asuncion Island	native	Ohba, T. (1994) (p. 65) Voucher cited: CBM-BS-59198
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Asuncion Island	native	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 12) varieties matrella and pacifica Goudsw.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Farallon de Pajaros (Uracas) Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (pp. 14-15)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Guguan Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) var. matrella
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Guguan Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1977) (p. 28) Vouchers cited: Falanruw 3110 (US), Falanruw 3111 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Maug Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) var. matrella
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Maug Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (pp. 14-15) Voucher cited: Falanruw 2215 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) varieties matrella and pacifica Goudsw.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 15) var. tenuifolia Vouchers cited: Fosberg 31345 (US, BISH, Fo), Anderson 514 (US, BISH, Fo, NY, L)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) var. pacifica Goudsw.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) var. pacifica Goudsw.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Sarigan Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) var. matrella
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Sarigan Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (pp. 14-15) Vouchers cited: Falanruw 1774 (US); var. tenuifolia Evans 2430 (US, BISH, Fo, NY, L)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Sarigan Island	native	Ohba, T. (1994) (p. 65) Voucher cited: CBM-BS-58903
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) varieties matrella and pacifica Goudsw.
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcan Sierra Negra	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005) infraspecific: 'var. pacifica'
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005) infraspecific: 'var. pacifica'
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Fefan Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) var. pacifica Goudsw.
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Namoluk (Nómwunuuk) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Marshall, Mae/Fosberg, F. R. (1975) (p. 27) Voucher cited: Marshall 2 (US)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Namonuito (Namonweito, Nómwun Wiité) Atoll	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) var. pacifica Goudsw.
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Pis Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) var. pacifica Goudsw.
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Puluwat (Pwonowót) Atoll	native	Manner, H. I./Mallon, E. (1989) (p. 36) Voucher cited: Manner & Mallon 181 (GUAM)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) var. pacifica Goudsw.
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Glassman, S. F. (1952) (p. 134)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Eauripik Atoll	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) var. pacifica Goudsw.
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Fais Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) var. pacifica Goudsw.
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Fais Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Evans, M. (1969) (p. 4) As Zoysia tenuifolia Trin. Voucher cited: Evans 379 (US)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Faraulep (Faraulap) Atoll	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) var. pacifica Goudsw.
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Ifalik (Ifaluk) Atoll	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) var. pacifica Goudsw.
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Lamotrek Atoll	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) var. pacifica Goudsw.
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Satawal Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) var. pacifica Goudsw.
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Satawal Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R. (1969) (p. 4) As Zoysia tenuifolia Trin. Voucher cited: Fosberg 46864 (US)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Ulithi Atoll	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) var. pacifica Goudsw.
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Woleai Atoll	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) var. pacifica Goudsw.
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) var. pacifica Goudsw.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 107)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 107)
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Takapoto Atoll	introduced cultivated	Sachet, M-H. (1983) (p. 14) Voucher cited: Sachet 2040 (US)
French Polynesia Tubuai (Austral) Islands	Rapa Island	introduced	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 348)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	native	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 197)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) varieties matrella? and pacifica Goudsw.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Flynn, Tim/Lorence, David H. (1998) (p. 5) Var. pacifica Gouds.; voucher cited: Lorence & Flynn 7651 (BISH, PTBG, US)
Japan (offshore islands) Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands	Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands		Kato, Hidetoshi (2007)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Jaluit (Jãlwõj) Atoll	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) var. pacifica Goudsw.
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Jaluit (Jãlwõj) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1962) (p. 7) "Planted on Pinlep in village, supposed to have been brought from Jabor where it was introduced by the Japanese". Voucher cited: Fosberg 41408 (US)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kili (Kõle) Atoll	introduced invasive	Vander Velde, Nancy/Vander Velde, Brian (2006) (p. 4) "Rare; small patch near fence of private yard in town".
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll	introduced invasive cultivated	Whistler, W. A./Steele, O. (1999) (p. 90) Voucher cited: Whistler 11209
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Arno Atoll	introduced cultivated	Vander Velde, Nancy/Vander Velde, Brian (2007) (p. 4) "Uncommon; planted around a few private homes; species uncertain".
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Vander Velde, Nancy (2003) (p. 54)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) var. pacifica Goudsw.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Peleliu Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 63) var. pacifica Goudsw.
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	native	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 118)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Japan Ryukyu Islands	Ryukyu Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Negara Brunei Darussalam Brunei	Brunei (Negara Brunei Darussalam)	probably native	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 69, 79)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	probably native	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 69, 79)
Taiwan Taiwan	Taiwan Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1993) (p. 21)
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Cocos (Keeling) Islands	Cocos (Keeling) Islands	native	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1993) (p. 38)

Additional information:  Additional online information about Zoysia matrella is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Taxonomic information about Zoysia matrella may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Charles Darwin Research Station. 2005. CDRS Herbarium records.

Flynn, Tim/Lorence, David H. 1998. New naturalized plant records for the Hawaiian Islands. In: Evenhuis, Neal L. and Miller, Scott, E., eds. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 1997. Part 2: Notes. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers. 56:5-6.

Fosberg, F. R. 1969. Plants of Satawal Island, Caroline Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 132. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 13 pp.

Fosberg, F. R. 1997. Preliminary checklist of the flowering plants and ferns of the Society Islands. Ed. by David R. Stoddart. U. Cal. Berkeley.

Fosberg, F. R./Evans, M. 1969. A collection of plants from Fais, Caroline Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 133. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 15 pp.

Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. 1975. Vascular flora of the northern Marianas Islands. Smithsonian Contrib. Bot. 22:1-45.

Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. 1977. Additional records of vascular plants from the northern Mariana Islands. Micronesica 13: 27-31.

Fosberg, F. R./Otobed, D./Sachet, M.-H./Oliver, R. L./Powell, D. A./Canfield, J. E. 1980. Vascular plants of Palau with vernacular names. Department of Botany, The Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 43 pp.

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. 1962. Vascular plants recorded from Jaluit Atoll. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 92. Pacific Science Board, National Academy of Sciences, Washington. 39 pp.

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce. 1987. A geographical checklist of the Micronesian monocotyledonae. Micronesica 20:1-126.

Glassman, S. F. 1952. The flora of Ponape. Bishop Mus. Bull. 209: 1-152.

Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar. 1980. Grass weeds, vol. 2. CIBA-GEIGY Ltd., Basle, Switzerland. 137 pp. + plates.

Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. 1988. Flora of the Solomon Islands. Research Bulletin No. 7. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Honiara. 203 pp.

Kato, Hidetoshi. 2007. Herbarium records of Makino Herbarium, Tokyo Metropolitan University. Personal communication.

Lægaard, Simon/Peterson, Paul M. 2001. Gramineae (part 2) [214(2).]. Flora of Ecuador 68, 131 pp.

Manner, H. I./Mallon, E. 1989. An Annotated list of the vascular plants of Pulawat Atoll. Micronesica 22:23-63.

Marshall, Mae/Fosberg, F. R. 1975. The natural history of Namoluk Atoll, eastern Caroline Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 189. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 53 pp + photos.

Ohba, T. 1994. Flora and vegetation of the northern Mariana Islands, Micronesia. Biological Expedition to the Northern Mariana Islands, Micronesia. In A. Asakua & T. Furuki, eds.  Natural History Research, Special issue no. 1, Chiba, Japan: Natural History Museum and Institute. pp. 13-69.

Orchard, Anthony E., ed. 1993. Flora of Australia. Vol. 50, Oceanic islands 2. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.

Raulerson, L. 2006. Checklist of Plants of the Mariana Islands. University of Guam Herbarium Contribution 40:1-69. .

Sachet, M-H. 1983. Takapoto Atoll, Tuamotu Archipelago: terrestrial vegetation and flora. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 277. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 41 pp. + photos.

Stone, Benjamin C. 1970. The flora of Guam. Micronesica 6:1-659.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2007. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

Vander Velde, Nancy. 2003. The vascular plants of Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. Smithsonian Institution, Atoll Research Bulletin No. 503:1-141.

Vander Velde, Nancy/Vander Velde, Brian. 2006. Plants of Kili Island, Marshall Islands. Unpublished checklist. 12 pp.

Vander Velde, Nancy/Vander Velde, Brian. 2007. Arno plants [preliminary working listing of plant species]. Unpublished checklist, 13 pp.

Waterhouse, D. F. 1993. The major invertebrate pests and weeds of agriculture in Southeast Asia. The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra. 141 pp.

Welsh, S. L. 1998. Flora Societensis: A summary revision of the flowering plants of the Society Islands. E.P.S. Inc., Orem, Utah. 420 pp.

Whistler, W. A./Steele, O. 1999. Botanical survey of the United States of America Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) Islands. Prepared for Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education and the U. S. Army Environmental Center. 111 pp.