ZOYSIA

genus of creeping grasses of the family Poaceae, containing four or five perennial species native to southeastern Asia and New Zealand. They are excellent cover for flat, sandy, open areas. Japanese, or Korean, lawn grass (Z. japonica), Manila grass (Z. matrella), and Mascarene grass (Z. tenuifolia) were introduced into North America as turf and lawn grasses because of their strong rhizomes (underground stems) and wiry leaves. The leaves are fine-bladed in both the Manila and Mascarene grasses.