Differences between Zoysia and Manila Grass

1. Difference in appearance

Zoysia is a perennial herb with horizontal rhizomes and relatively upright culms, about 14-20 cm high, with persistent and withered leaf sheaths usually at the base. The ligule is ciliate, the leaf blade is slightly involute or flat, about 2.5-5 cm long and 2-4 mm wide, with soft hairs on the surface and glabrous on the back.

The internodes at the base of Manila grass are shorter, and each node has one to several branches. The leaf sheath is longer than the internode, the ligule is shorter and less obvious, the leaf blade is curled inward, and the former is shorter, up to 3 cm long and about 1-2 mm wide.

2. Difference of Spikelets

Zoysia has a raceme inflorescence that is spike-shaped, and the spikelets are oval, light yellow-green or purple-brown.

Manila grass also has a raceme inflorescence that is thin and columnar, and the spikelets are ovate-lanceolate and yellowish brown or purple-brown in color.