Melinis nerviglumis

Mountain red top
Habit in South Africa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Panicoideae
Genus: Melinis
Species:
M. nerviglumis
Binomial name
Melinis nerviglumis
Synonyms[1]
  • Melinis bachmannii Mez
  • Melinis muenzneri Mez
  • Melinis nyassana Mez
  • Melinis setifolia (Stapf) Hack.
  • Melinis villosipes Mez
  • Tricholaena congoensis Franch.
  • Tricholaena filifolia Franch.
  • Tricholaena nerviglumis Franch.

Melinis nerviglumis is a species of grass known by the common names mountain red top or bristle-leaved red top. The Latin name refers to the veined glume.[2] It is native from tropical to southern Africa, the western Indian Ocean islands, and Indochina.[2] It is cultivated as a garden ornamental due to its colourful purple flowers.[3] The flowers are produced in summer and fade to white as they mature. By this time the seeds can be harvested for new plantings.

  1. ^ "Melinis nerviglumis (Franch.) Zizka". The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  2. ^ a b Clayton, W. D.; Vorontsova, M.; Harman, K. T.; Williamson, H. "Melinis nerviglumis". GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  3. ^ Johnson, Isabel. "Melinis nerviglumis (Franch.) Zizka". PlantZAfrica.com. Natal National Botanical Garden. Retrieved 13 January 2016.