Zoysia matrella facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Zoysia matrella |
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| at Peradeniya Botanical Garden | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Zoysia
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matrella
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Zoysia matrella is a type of grass often called Manila grass. It grows in thick, mat-like patches. This grass is originally from warm coastal areas in southeastern Asia and northern Australasia. You can find it from southern Japan (like the Ryūkyū Islands) and Taiwan, all the way south through countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. It also grows in northern Australia and even on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean.
Manila grass has many other common names, showing how widely it is known and used. Some of these names include Korean grass, Manila templegrass, siglap grass (named after a place in Singapore), temple grass, Mascarene grass, and Japanese carpet. In different languages, it's called hierba Manila (Spanish), jukut kakawatan hijau (Sundanese), rebha sekem-sekeman (Madurese), burikit (on Seram island), rumput siglap (Malay), damong-alat or barit-baritan (Tagalog), malakuwerdas (Pangasinan), and ya-nuannoi (Thai).
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What Manila Grass Looks Like
Manila grass forms thick, soft, green mats. It spreads very well using special stems called stolons, which grow along the ground. Sometimes, it also spreads using underground stems called rhizomes. This grass grows best in low areas, especially in sandy soils where other grasses might struggle to grow.
The stems of Manila grass are thin and lie flat on the ground. They can be anywhere from 5 to 25 centimeters (about 2 to 10 inches) long. Its leaves grow in a pattern along the stem, about 1.5 to 3 centimeters apart. The leaves are thin, usually 2 to 10 centimeters long and 1 to 3 millimeters wide. The flowers are greenish and grow on upright stalks called racemes. These stalks are 6 to 35 millimeters long, and each tiny flower is about 2 to 3.5 millimeters in size.
How People Use Manila Grass
Manila grass is very popular as an ornamental grass, which means it's grown because it looks nice. It's often used to make beautiful turf on golf courses in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Many people in the United States, especially in the South, use it as a lawn grass for their homes. Farmers also plant it for animals to graze on, especially among coconut trees in tropical areas.
This grass is great for sandy soils and can handle a lot of salt. This makes it perfect for stopping soil from washing away (erosion control) and for creating lawns in coastal areas near the sea.
Because it's so useful, Manila grass is found in many places around the world. It has even become naturalised in some areas, like Hawaii. This means it started growing there on its own, even though it wasn't originally from that place. Sometimes, it can spread so well that it becomes a bit "weedy," meaning it grows where people don't necessarily want it, just like many other plants that are good for horticulture (gardening).
Different Types of Manila Grass
Scientists and gardeners have created several special types of Manila grass, called cultivars. These are specific versions of the plant that have certain desired features. Some examples include:
- 'BRF (Blade Runner Farms) Zoysia'
- 'Sir Grange' - This type is sold in Australia.
How Manila Grass Affects Other Plants
Zoysia matrella produces special natural chemicals in its shoots. These chemicals are called allelopathic chemicals. They can affect how well other plants grow around them. For example, they might change how quickly other plant seeds sprout (germination rates) or how long their roots and shoots grow.
However, these chemicals don't last forever. They seem to break down into harmless substances within 15 to 30 days when the soil is moist.
More Information
- USFS US Department of Agriculture Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER]], 2005. [1]
