The plant list does not attempt to include all infraspecific taxa. Blanketgrass, holmes grass, natal grass, natal redtop, ruby grass. It is already widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions due to its long use as a pasture grass and ornamental plant. A liquorice flavour drink can be made by soaking the roots in cold water, and historically the young shoots have been used as a vegetable, boiled or in salads. The integrated taxonomic information system itis provides authoritative taxonomic information on melinis repens, as well as other plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of north america and the world. Introduced, warmseason, annual or shortlived perennial, loosely tufted and hairy c4 grass to 1. Formerly known as rhynchelytrum repens, a member of the perennial grass family native to south africa, widely distributed and known by different common names. In cos 101 the 93rd esa annual meeting august 3 august 8, 2008, the midwest airlines centre, milwaukie, wisconsin. Its the hair that catches sunlight, causing windblown inflorescences to be so spectacular when the sun shines from behind them. Leaves with ligule a ciliate rim with hairs to 2 mm long. External data sources note this takes you off of our website. Melinis repens in world checklist of selected plant families. The species name repens is latin and means creeping. It may be an annual, sometimes a shortlived perennial.
It grows in sunny, dry places, in all type of soil but prefers a welldrained soil. Rhynchelytrum repens is an annual grass native to south africa and is found throughout many counties in florida. The plant is widely recognised as it is one of the most widespread and common grasses. It has been brought into other mild northern climates for forage or erosion control, but is often considered a weed. Repens is from the latin repe meaning to creep referring to the creeping habit. Natal red top is a wellknown pioneer grass and plays an important role in stabilising disturbed soil and as palatable fodder.
Named from the greek meline name for grain millet melinis is greek for quinceyellow. It is native to southern africa, but it is well known on other continents such as north america and australia. Ononis repens is related to liquorice and its roots have a very similar flavour. Melinis repens, commonly known as natal grass, is a shortlived perennial grass native. Department of agriculture agricultural research service. For example, you can find chenopods searching on cheno. Development of seinet, symbiota, and several of the specimen databases have been supported by national science foundation grants dbi 99832, brc 0237418, dbi 0743827, dbi 0847966. Source of description description based on online resource.
The poaceae are one of the largest families of flowering plants with about 500 genera and 8,000 species. Red natal grass melinis repens is regarded as an environmental weed in queensland, new south wales, western australia and the northern territory. Zizka united states other pacific offshore islands midway atoll midway atoll introduced invasive wagner. The board of trustees of the royal botanic gardens, kew. The following databases may contain further information on this name. Repens is from the latin repe meaning to creep referring to the creeping habit other names. Rhynchelytrum repens saccharum repens tricholaena repens tricholaena rosea. The genus name melinis is either derived from the greek melas, meaning black, referring to the black seeds, or from the latin mel, meaning honey, as some species smell like molasses. Provided by smithsonian institution, department of botany.
Inflorescence an open panicle with numerous pink or red hairs on spikelet fading to white with age. Additional photos of natal grass melinis repens leaves at kahoolawe, hawaii. Melinis repens occurs in disturbed areas and is a pioneer species. Y yes, regularly, o occasionally, u uncertain, referred by others but not confirmed. Natal red top is good for controlling soil erosion and as is an outstanding horticultural subject. A letter to the editor in the brisbane courier from 1894 macpherson, 1894. In the series university of florida digital collections. Except where otherwise noted, content on this site is licensed under a creative commons attribution cc by licence.
Melinis repens, commonly known as natal grass, is a shortlived perennial grass native to south africa, the arabian peninsula, india, the seychelles island and canary islands. Birds eat the seeds and use the plant for nesting material. Zizka united states other pacific offshore islands midway atoll midway atoll introduced invasive wagner, warren l. It was also recently listed as a priority environmental weed in at least one natural resource management region.
Melinis repens is a species of grass known by the common names rose natal grass, natal red top, or simply natal grass. These two species can be distinguished by the following differences. The plants distinguishing features are that its individual florets are purple and abundantly hairy. Melinis repens ligule nc5 introduced, warmseason, annual. Molasses grass melinis minutiflora is similar to red natal grass melinis repens.
Note this takes you off of our website use your browsers back button to return to this page. Melinis repens ufifas center for aquatic and invasive. Allergens and plants search enter a full or partial species name to find more information on one of over 1200 potentially allergenic plants. Trifolium repens, a dicot, is a perennial herb that is not native to california. Panicle ovate to oblong, 6815 cm long, fluffy, silverypink or purple. Melinis repens rose natal grass, rose natalgrass, natal. Source of description this bibliographic record is available under the creative commons cc0 public domain dedication. Melinis repens ufifas center for aquatic and invasive plants. Provides authoritative information on the flora of western australia. Thats melinis repens, sometimes called ruby grass and natal grass. View photographs and a description of the plant melinis repens, commonly known as rose natal grass, rose natalgrass, or natal redtop. More on creeping molasses grass melinis repens in wikipedia. Biology, ecology and management of natalgrass melinis repens. More creeping molasses grass melinis repens imagesby jessie m.
The website also provides access to a database and images of herbarium specimens found at the university of south florida and other herbaria. Media in category melinis repens the following 120 files are in this category, out of 120 total. It is often confused with melinis nerviglumis, but can be distinguished by the more open leaves. Near owl canyon on the west bajada of the peloncillo mountains. The area of the plots where the two strategies will be implemented will be prepared by removing an invasive species of grass melinis repens willd.
Biology, ecology and management of natalgrass melinis repens by courtney ann stokes december 2010 chair. Creeping molasses grass melinis repens species details and. Creeping molasses grass melinis repens species details. Elymus repens, commonly known as couch grass, is a very common perennial species of grass native to most of europe, asia, the arctic biome, and northwest africa.
It is native to southern africa, but it is well known on. It is used as a diabetes cure in folk medicine and actively studied for its hypoglycemic properties. Multiple ecological strategies explain the distribution of exotic and. Development of seinet, symbiota, and several of the specimen databases have been supported by national science foundation grants dbi 99832, brc 0237418, dbi 0743827, dbi 0847966 symbiota, and several of the specimen databases have been supported by national science foundation grants dbi.
Melinis repens in the germplasm resources information network grin, u. Annual or shortlived perennial up to 90 cm high leaves not aromatic. In cos 101 the 93rd esa annual meeting august 3 august 8, 2008, the. Melinis repens natural history of ecological restoration. There are 10 species of melinis in southern africa, including the wellknown natal red top, melinis repens formerly rhynchelytrum repens, which is common on roadsides and in disturbed areas. This species is accepted, and its native range is africa to arabian peninsula. The agroforestry model will also generate useful products, such as agave leaves, which are used in the region for several purposes including to make pulque an. The atlas of florida plants provides a source of information for the distribution of plants within the state and taxonomic information. More on creeping molasses grass melinis repens in wikipedia allergens and plants search enter a full or partial species name to find more information on one of over 1200 potentially allergenic plants. It was introduced as a forage species, but lacks the nutritional qualities of other species. The results can also be downloaded as a csv file unicode utf8 encoding see status, confidence level, source for definitions.
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