Zoysia japonica

Zoysia japonica
Cultivated Zoysia japonica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
(unranked):	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Genus:	Zoysia
Species:	Z. japonica
Binomial name
Zoysia japonica Steud.

Zoysia japonica (commonly known as Korean lawngrass,Zoysiagrass or Japanese lawngrass) is a species of creeping, mat-forming, short perennial grass that grows by both rhizomes and stolons. It is native to the coastal grasslands of southeast Asia and Indonesia. The United States was first introduced to Z. japonica in 1895. It received its first import from the Chinese region of Manchuria. Today, Z. japonica has become one of the most widely used species of turfgrass in the United States, serving as a close alternative to bermudagrass.

Zoysia japonica has smooth, stiff, vertical leaf blades, that roll in the bud. They grow to approximately 0.5 mm width. It is hairy near the base and exhibits short inflorescence. Its pedicles grow to approximately 1.75 mm, while the ascending culm internodes measure to be approximately 14 mm long.Z. japonica has a very coarse texture, compared to others of its genus. Its high tolerance to drought, freezing temperatures, salt, and shade make for a favorable lawn grass. An adventitious root system grounds the grass. When exposed to prolonged drought, it easily adapts by developing deeper rooting systems. Although it is tolerant to freezing temperatures, it does lose it’s bright green color, turning brown after frost.

Zoysia japonica needs a humid climate to survive. It does well in cool temperate zones, transition zones,  and warm temperate or marine zones. It was originally cultivated such climates in China, Japan, and Korea. In the United States, it is cultivated South of Connecticut, along the Atlantic Coast, and along the Gulf Coast to Texas. In Australia it is cultivated along the northeastern coastline.

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Wikipedia