Melinis repens – Rose Natal Grass

Melinis repens - Rose Natal Grass, Rose Natalgrass, Natal Redtop

Melinis repens - Rose Natal Grass, Rose Natalgrass, Natal Redtop

Plant Name

Scientific Name: Melinis repens

Synonyms: Rhynchelytrum repens, R. roseum, Saccharum repens, Tricholaena repens, T. rosea

Common Names: Rose Natal Grass, Rose Natalgrass, Natal Redtop

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual, Perennial

Growth Habit: Graminoid

Arizona Native Status: Introduced. This naturalized, weedy grass is native to South Africa.

Habitat: Desert (upper elevation), Upland. This showy grass with its masses of fluffy, pink panicles grows in open and disturbed areas and is most often seen growing along roadsides.

Flower Color: Inconspicuous

Flowering Season: Spring, Summer, Fall

Height: To 3 feet (91 cm) tall

Description: The fluffy panicles of flower spikelets and fruit are covered in reddish, fading to silvery pink hairs. The leaf sheaths are green to tinged reddish and linear in shape.

Special Characteristics

Allergenic – The pollen is a mild allergen.

Classification

Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Liliopsida – Monocotyledons
Subclass: Commelinidae
Order: Cyperales
Family: Poaceae – Grass family
Genus: Melinis P. Beauv. – stinkgrass
Species: Melinis repens (Willd.) Zizka – rose Natal grass

More About This Plant

Arizona County Distribution Map