manila grass
LowSpecialised / Technical (Botany, Horticulture, Landscaping)
Definition
Meaning
A type of perennial grass used as a hardy lawn or turf grass, often for sports fields and coastal areas.
Used generically to refer to grasses with similar characteristics (dense, durable, low-growing) in landscaping. Also refers to the specific species Zoysia matrella, also known as Manila grass or Japanese carpet grass.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Refers specifically to the plant species, not to paper or folders. Often capitalised as 'Manila grass' due to its origin. Not to be confused with 'Bermuda grass' or other common turf varieties.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is equally known in both varieties, but the grass itself is more common in warmer climates, which may affect regional familiarity.
Connotations
Connotes durability, low maintenance, and suitability for sports or decorative lawns.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American English due to its use in southern US landscaping and the golf industry.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] planted [Object: manila grass].[Subject: Manila grass] thrives in [Prepositional Phrase: warm climates].The lawn is [Copula] [Complement: manila grass].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in landscaping, gardening supply, and sports facility management contexts.
Academic
Used in botany, horticulture, and environmental science papers.
Everyday
Rare in general conversation unless discussing gardening or lawns.
Technical
Standard term in agronomy and turf management for the specific species.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They plan to manila the entire pitch.
- The groundsman is manilaing the new bowling green.
American English
- We need to manila the backyard before summer.
- The golf course was manilaed last year.
adjective
British English
- We're looking for a manila-grass solution for the cricket outfield.
- It has a typical manila-grass appearance.
American English
- He installed a manila-grass lawn.
- The manila-grass turf is very resilient.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This grass is called manila grass.
- Manila grass is green.
- The park has manila grass which is very strong.
- We planted manila grass in our garden.
- Due to its drought tolerance, manila grass is ideal for our climate.
- The landscaper recommended manila grass for the high-traffic area.
- Zoysia matrella, commercially known as manila grass, exhibits exceptional wear tolerance and slow vertical growth.
- The decision to use manila grass on the bowling green was based on its fine texture and density.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'Manila' the city and 'grass'. Manila grass is a tough grass from the Manila/Asian region, good for envelopes? No, for lawns!
Conceptual Metaphor
DURABILITY IS TOUGHNESS (Manila grass is described as 'tough', 'hardy', 'durable').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'манильская трава' directly; the accepted botanical term is 'зойсия'.
- Avoid confusing with 'газонная трава' (lawn grass) which is a general term.
- Not related to 'манила' (manila) as in rope or paper.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'Manilla grass'.
- Confusing it with 'Bermuda grass' or 'Kentucky bluegrass'.
- Using it as a general term for any lawn grass.
- Incorrect capitalisation: 'manila Grass'.
Practice
Quiz
What is 'manila grass' primarily used for?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are completely different. Manila grass (Zoysia) is a desirable turf grass, while crabgrass is a weed.
It is best suited for warm temperate to tropical climates. It goes dormant and turns brown with frost.
It grows slowly and requires less frequent mowing than many other turf grasses.
It is named after Manila, Philippines, as it is native to Southeast Asia and was likely introduced from that region.