Ischaemum ophiuroides Munro, Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 4: 363. 1860; Eremochloa ophiuroides var. longifolia Hayata.

Perennial, stoloniferous, mat-forming. Culms decumbent, rooting and branching, flowering shoots 15–30 cm tall. Leaf sheaths keeled, overlapping at base, hairy at mouth; leaf blades flat, (1–)3–10 × 0.2–0.4 cm, usually glabrous, apex obtuse; ligule 0.2–5 mm, margin ciliate. Raceme erect or slightly curved, 4–6 cm; rachis internodes narrowly oblong-clavate, glabrous, ca. 2.5 mm. Sessile spikelet 3.5–4 mm; lower glume oblong, ± leathery, shiny, glabrous, 5–7-veined, marginal spines very inconspicuous, short along incurving lower keels or reduced to knobs, apex acute but appearing broadly truncate because of flanking membranous wings. Pedicelled spikelet vestigial or absent; pedicel ± leaflike, ellipsoid-subulate. Fl. and fr. Jun–Oct. 2n = 18.

This species is occasionally used as a lawn grass in warm regions, especially in the SE United States (Centipede Grass).

Moist meadows, hillsides, especially on clay soils; 200–1200 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Zhejiang [Vietnam].