| Synonyms: |
Melinis maitlandii Stapf & C.E. Hubb. Melinis maitlandii forma mutica (Chiov.) Robyns Melinis minutiflora P. Beauv. var. inermis (Doell) Rendle Melinis minutiflora P. Beauv. var. pilosa Stapf Melinis minutiflora forma inermis (Doell) Stapf & C.E. Hubb. Melinis minutiflora forma mutica Chiov. Melinis purpurea Stapf & C.E. Hubb. Melinis tenuinervis Stapf Panicum melinis Trin. var. inerme Doell Panicum minutiflorum (P. Beauv.) Raspail |
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| Description: |
Tufted perennial. Culms (50)80–150 cm. high, ascending. Leaf laminae (2)4–20 cm. long, (2.5)5–11(19) mm. wide, flat, these and the sheaths densely tomentose and usually sticky with a strong smell of linseed oil. Panicle (8)10–20(36) cm. long, narrowly ovate. Pedicels glabrous, rarely with a few hairs towards the apex, scabrous. Spikelets (1.5)1.7– 2.2(2.4) mm. long, narrowly ovate to narrowly oblong. Inferior glume 0.1–0.4 mm. long, ovate, 0–1-nerved, inserted close to the superior; superior glume prominently 7-nerved, awnless or with a short mucro (rarely conspicuously awned), membranous, obtusely bilobed, glabrous, rarely hairy. Inferior floret barren without a palea, its lemma prominently 5-nerved, acutely bilobed, equalling the superior glume but narrower, awnless or with an awn up to 14 mm. long. |
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| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | minutiflora: with very small flowers |
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| Worldwide distribution: | Tropical Africa, introduced in Central and South America, Canary Is., Cape Verde, Caroline Is., Egypt, Réunion, Society Is., Solomon Is., Southeast Asia, Southeast and south-central China |
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| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 353. Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 38. Clayton, W.D. (1989). Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(3) Page 123. Jackson, G. & Wiehe, P.O. (1958). An Annotated Check List of Nyasaland Grasses The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland Page 48. As Melinis maitlandii, M. tenuinervis and Rhynchelytrum minutiflorum Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 106. Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 201. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 149. Troupin, G. & Maquet, P. (1988). Poaceae Flore du Rwanda Spermatophytes Volume IV Page 310. (Includes a picture). |