Zoysia Plant Named 'LSA01'

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Zoysia macrantha plant named LSA01, characterized by the combination of a fast rate of growth, freely branched stolons, medium leaf blade and good salt tolerance. The new variety propagates successfully by stolon and rhizome division and has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Claims

A new and distinct variety of Zoysia macrantha plant named LSA01, substantially as described and illustrated herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, the mature sward of a 12 month-old LSA01 plant grown in a 200 mm nursery pot. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of LSA01.

[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, an exemplary stolon of LSA01 of a 12 month-old LSA01 plant grown in a 200 mm nursery pot.

[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, an exemplary inflorescence of LSA01 of a 12 month-old LSA01 plant grown in a 200 mm nursery pot.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0015] The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinct variety of a Zoysia macrantha turf grass plant known as LSA01. Unless indicated otherwise, the descriptions disclosed herein are based upon observations made in October of 2016 of 12 month old LSA01 plants grown in 200 mm nursery pots in Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia. Plants were grown in full sun and maintained using regular overhead irrigation. Only one application of slow-release fertilizer was applied to the plants and no pest or disease measures were taken. Plants were untrimmed.

[0016] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. LSA01 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2003 edition.

[0017] A botanical description of LSA01 and comparisons with the parent plants and closest known cultivar of Zoysia macrantha are provided below. [0018] Plant description: [0019] Growth habit.Perennial plant with a prostrate growth habit forming a tight mat of stolons which root adventitiously on the ground surface and branch heavily at the stolon nodes. Culms are prostrate, becoming decumbent when flowering. [0020] Growth rate.Very vigorous. [0021] Disease and pest tolerance or resistance.Neither tolerance nor resistance to normal diseases and pests of Zoysia macrantha has been observed. [0022] Temperature tolerance.Zoysia macrantha is known to tolerate temperatures from approximately 10 degrees F. to at least 115 degrees F. [0023] Drought tolerance.Like other Zoysia species, LSA01 exhibits good drought tolerance relative to other Genus of warm season grasses such as Stenotaphrum sp.. [0024] Soil tolerances.Tolerant of most soil types; from sandy loam to loamy clay; maintains good turf quality in low-fertility soils. [0025] Propagation.Typical time to develop roots is similar to that of other Zoysia grasses; approximately 2 to 4 weeks. Average crop time to produce an initial mature and marketable stand of turf grass sod is approximately 7 to 9 months. Precise timing varies depending on fertilizer and water inputs as well as geographical location. [0026] Root system: Root system is typical for that of Zoysia grass species; a network of rhizomes and fibrous feeder roots. Rhizomes are colored orange-white, nearest to RHS 159D. [0027] Stolons: [0028] Stolon length.The mean length is approximately 80 mm. [0029] Stolon width.Mean width is approximately 1 mm. [0030] Stolon color.Exposed surfaces are yellow-green, RHS 144A; unexposed surfaces are purple, RHS N77A. [0031] Stolon internode color.Exposed surfaces are greyed-purple, RHS 187A; unexposed surfaces are yellow-green, RHS 144A. [0032] Stolon internode length.10 to 20 mm on mature stolons. [0033] Culms: [0034] Culm attitude.Prostrate; semi-decumbent when flowering. [0035] Culm length.Mean length is 75 mm, from stolon node to apex above. [0036] Culm internode length.10 to 20 mm. [0037] Color.Green, RHS 138A. [0038] Foliage: [0039] Attachment.Cauline. [0040] Length of blade.Mean length is 75 mm; flag leaf on flowering culm has a mean length of 125 mm. [0041] Width of blade.Mean width is 4 mm; flag leaf is 4 mm wide. [0042] Shape of blade.Linear. [0043] Leaf shape; apex.Acute. [0044] Leaf aspect.Concave. [0045] Margin.Entire; ciliate. [0046] Texture (adaxial & abaxial surfaces).Smooth. [0047] Hairiness (adaxial & abaxial surfaces).Glabrous. [0048] Juvenile leaf color (adaxial surface).Green, RHS 137B. [0049] Juvenile leaf color (abaxial surface).Green, RHS 137B. [0050] Mature leaf color (adaxial surface).Green, RHS 137B. [0051] Mature leaf color (abaxial surface).Green, RHS 137B. [0052] Venation.Parallel. [0053] Venation color.All veins are colored the same of surrounding leaf surface; all veins are green, RHS 137B. [0054] Leaf sheath.Glabrous, ranging from 8 to 10 mm long. Color approximates to yellow-green, RHS 145A. [0055] Collar.Approximately 1 mm, and constricted. Color approximates to yellow-green, RHS 146C. [0056] Ligule.A fringe of approximately 10 to 15 hairs, ranging in length from 1 to 3 mm. [0057] Inflorescence and flower: [0058] Natural flowering season.Spring to fall; in Northern hemisphere, April to November. [0059] Inflorescence type and habit.Terminal spike-like raceme, comprised of eight alternate pairs of appressed spikelets. [0060] Total inflorescence size.Approximately 25 mm long by 1 mm wide. [0061] Rachilla.Curved; approximately 2 mm in length; width is approximately 0.25 mm; color is yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146A. [0062] Color of spikelets.The immature lemmas are yellow-green, RHS 146A, and mature to a greyed-purple corresponding to RHS 183B. [0063] Shape of spikelets.Narrowly ovoid with an acute apex. [0064] Dimensions of spikelets.Approximately 2 mm long and less than 1 mm wide. [0065] Glumes.Approximately 2 mm long and less than 1 mm wide; color is yellow-green, RHS 146A. [0066] Lemma.Approximately 1.5 mm long and less than 0.5 mm wide; predominant color is yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144D, with a darker stripe, nearest to RHS 146A. [0067] Awns.Absent. [0068] Reproductive organs: [0069] Androecium.Not observed. [0070] Gynoecium.Style Approximately 1 mm long and 0.1 mm wide. Stigma Featherlike; length is approximately 1 mm; wide is approximately 0.5 mm; color is white, nearest to RHS N155A. Ovary Not observed. [0071] Seeds and fruits: The number of seed per raceme, seed dimensions and color of seed correspond to the number of spikelets, spikelet dimensions and spike color. [0072] Comparison with the parent plants and commercial comparator: Plants of the new cultivar LSA01 are similar to the parent and only known commercial comparator, Zoysia macrantha MAC03, in most horticultural characteristics. However LSA01 differs from the parent in the following characteristics: 1. The stolons of LSA01 are freely branched whereas MAC03 exhibits less stolon branching. 2. The stolons of LSA01 have a smaller diameter than the stolons of MAC03. 3. The flowering culms of LSA01 are longer and have a smaller diameter than the flowering culms of MAC03. 4. The flowering culms of LSA01 are colored lighter green than the flowering culms of MAC03. 5. The spikelets of LSA01 are colored lighter greyed-purple than the spikelets of MAC03. Plants of the new cultivar LSA01 are similar to the parent, Zoysia macrantha known as Breeding Line A, in most horticultural characteristics. However LSA01 exhibits fast rate of growth whereas Breeder Line A exhibits a slow growth rate.