Family: Poaceae
Author: (Willd.) Zizka
Bibliography: Biblioth. Bot. 38(138): 55 (1988)
Year: 1988
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Melinis
Vegetable: False
Observations: Africa to Arabian Pen.
Description
Red natal grass, scientifically known as Melinis repens, is a lush, vibrant grass species celebrated for its ornamental and ecological value. Described and categorized in the reputable “Bibliotheca Botanica” (Volume 38, entry 138, page 55) in the year 1988 by the botanist Zizka, this grass finds its origins and distribution spanning across the warm climates of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula.
Belonging to the extensive and diverse family Poaceae, Red natal grass thrives in a variety of habitats, showcasing its adaptability and resilience. Its elegant, feathery foliage, often tinged with shades of red and pink, lends a picturesque quality to landscapes, making it a popular choice for decorative planting. The grass’s ability to flourish in less fertile soils also highlights its utility in erosion control and as a pioneering species in land restoration projects, where it helps to stabilize the soil and create a hospitable environment for other plant life.
In addition to its ecological importance, Melinis repens possesses notable characteristics that make it a subject of interest for botanists and ecologists alike. Its growth pattern, reproductive strategies, and interaction with the surrounding flora and fauna offer valuable insights into the dynamics of the ecosystems it inhabits. As a member of the Poaceae family, it shares commonalities with many other grasses, yet its distinct features underline the rich biodiversity within this plant family.
Overall, Melinis repens stands out not only for its striking appearance but also for its functional role in the ecosystems from Africa to the Arabian Peninsula. Whether utilized for its aesthetic appeal in gardens and landscapes or its practical benefits in environmental management, Red natal grass exemplifies the intersection of beauty and utility in the natural world.
Common Names
Eng: natal grass, natal-redtop, rose natal grass, red natal grass
Swe: rosengräs
Spa: yerba de natal
Nno: natalgras
Nob: natalgras
En: Red Natal grass, Natal grass, Natal-redtop, Rose natal grass, Natal redtop
Fr: Herbe rose
Nb: Natalgras
Nn: Natalgras
Es: Yerba de Natal
Sv: Rosengräs
Synonyms
- Rhynchelythrum repens ((Willd.) C.E.Hubb.)
- Erianthus repens ((Willd.) P.Beauv.)
- Saccharum repens (Willd.)
- Tricholaena repens ((Willd.) Hitchc.)
- Tricholaena atropurpura ((Voss) Vilm.)
Distribution
- Aldabra (native)
- Angola (native)
- Benin (native)
- Botswana (native)
- Burkina (native)
- Burundi (native)
- Cameroon (native)
- Cape Provinces (native)
- Cape Verde (native)
- Central African Repu (native)
- Chad (native)
- Congo (native)
- Djibouti (native)
- Equatorial Guinea (native)
- Eritrea (native)
- Ethiopia (native)
- Free State (native)
- Ghana (native)
- Gulf of Guinea Is. (native)
- Ivory Coast (native)
- Kenya (native)
- Kuwait (native)
- KwaZulu-Natal (native)
- Lesotho (native)
- Madagascar (native)
- Malawi (native)
- Mauritania (native)
- Mozambique (native)
- Namibia (native)
- Niger (native)
- Nigeria (native)
- Northern Provinces (native)
- Oman (native)
- Rwanda (native)
- Saudi Arabia (native)
- Seychelles (native)
- Sierra Leone (native)
- Socotra (native)
- Somalia (native)
- Sudan (native)
- Swaziland (native)
- Tanzania (native)
- Togo (native)
- Uganda (native)
- Western Sahara (native)
- Yemen (native)
- Zambia (native)
- Zaïre (native)
- Zimbabwe (native)
- Alabama (introduced)
- Argentina Northeast (introduced)
- Argentina Northwest (introduced)
- Arizona (introduced)
- Aruba (introduced)
- Bahamas (introduced)
- Bangladesh (introduced)
- Belize (introduced)
- Bolivia (introduced)
- Brazil South (introduced)
- Brazil Southeast (introduced)
- Brazil West-Central (introduced)
- California (introduced)
- Canary Is. (introduced)
- Cayman Is. (introduced)
- Chagos Archipelago (introduced)
- China Southeast (introduced)
- Christmas I. (introduced)
- Colombia (introduced)
- Cook Is. (introduced)
- Costa Rica (introduced)
- Cuba (introduced)
- Dominican Republic (introduced)
- Easter Is. (introduced)
- Ecuador (introduced)
- El Salvador (introduced)
- Fiji (introduced)
- Florida (introduced)
- Georgia (introduced)
- Gilbert Is. (introduced)
- Guatemala (introduced)
- Guyana (introduced)
- Haiti (introduced)
- Hawaii (introduced)
- Honduras (introduced)
- India (introduced)
- Italy (introduced)
- Jawa (introduced)
- Kazan-retto (introduced)
- Laos (introduced)
- Leeward Is. (introduced)
- Lesser Sunda Is. (introduced)
- Line Is. (introduced)
- Louisiana (introduced)
- Madeira (introduced)
- Malaya (introduced)
- Maluku (introduced)
- Marianas (introduced)
- Marquesas (introduced)
- Marshall Is. (introduced)
- Maryland (introduced)
- Mauritius (introduced)
- Mexican Pacific Is. (introduced)
- Mexico Central (introduced)
- Mexico Gulf (introduced)
- Mexico Northeast (introduced)
- Mexico Northwest (introduced)
- Mexico Southeast (introduced)
- Mexico Southwest (introduced)
- Myanmar (introduced)
- Nansei-shoto (introduced)
- Nauru (introduced)
- Netherlands Antilles (introduced)
- New Caledonia (introduced)
- New Guinea (introduced)
- New Mexico (introduced)
- New South Wales (introduced)
- New Zealand North (introduced)
- Nicaragua (introduced)
- Norfolk Is. (introduced)
- North Carolina (introduced)
- Ogasawara-shoto (introduced)
- Pakistan (introduced)
- Panamá (introduced)
- Paraguay (introduced)
- Peru (introduced)
- Philippines (introduced)
- Puerto Rico (introduced)
- Queensland (introduced)
- Rodrigues (introduced)
- Réunion (introduced)
- Sardegna (introduced)
- Society Is. (introduced)
- Solomon Is. (introduced)
- South China Sea (introduced)
- Spain (introduced)
- Sri Lanka (introduced)
- St.Helena (introduced)
- Taiwan (introduced)
- Texas (introduced)
- Thailand (introduced)
- Tonga (introduced)
- Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
- Tuamotu (introduced)
- Tubuai Is. (introduced)
- Uruguay (introduced)
- Venezuela (introduced)
- Vietnam (introduced)
- Wallis-Futuna Is. (introduced)
- West Himalaya (introduced)
- Western Australia (introduced)
- Windward Is. (introduced)
Additional Images
Habit
Taken Jun 18, 2015 by EOL − Jordan Golubov (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jul 29, 2015 by EOL − Gilberto Ponce Tejeda (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jun 20, 2015 by EOL − Jordan Golubov (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jul 23, 2015 by EOL − Cristina (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jun 23, 2022 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Leaf
Taken Nov 29, 2022 by rock.pillow (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 7, 2022 by Leigh Winowiecki (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 23, 2022 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 2, 2022 by Matthew Brown (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 7, 2022 by Raquel Proença (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken Oct 29, 2015 by EOL − Laura (cc-by-nc)
Taken Oct 29, 2015 by EOL − Laura (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jul 21, 2020 by Serge Morand (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 3, 2019 by PATRICK PREVOST (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 23, 2020 by JP Corrêa Carvalho (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Nov 12, 2019 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 12, 2019 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 13, 2020 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 17, 2021 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 30, 2020 by Sebra Debrecht (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − W. L. Wagner (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Marco Schmidt (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Georg Zizka (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Jun 6, 2020 by Hosein Amjadyan (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 6, 2022 by Tertxu García (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Feb 21, 2021 by Disa Villada (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 2, 2020 by Leigh Winowiecki (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − W. L. Wagner (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Apr 26, 2015 by EOL − Jordan Golubov (cc-by-nc)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2702504)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:2945817-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Melinis repens (Willd.) Zizka)
Specifications
Growth habit: Graminoid