Japanese name: シバ（芝） Scientific name:Zoysia japonica
[Overview]
A perennial growing in sunny grasslands such as seashores and riverbeds.
The hard stems creep long along the ground like vines, rooting at the nodes and spreading while branching.
The leaves are alternate, linear, 2–7 cm long and 0.2–0.5 cm wide, with pointed tips and a hard texture.
Young leaves are sparsely hairy.
The flower stalk is erect, 10–20 cm tall, and bears an upright flower spike 3–5 cm long densely set with spikelets.
The spikelets are flattened and ovate, about 0.3 cm long, 2–2.5 times as long as wide, consist of one floret, and have no awn.
[Uses]
It tolerates shade and is also resistant to drought, and is cultivated as a lawn grass.
