Melinis nerviglumis (Franch.) Zizka

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Chinyakwaremba, Vumba

Photo: Petra Ballings
Mt Chinaka, Juliasdale

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Synonyms:	Melinis bachmannii Mez Melinis munzneri Mez Melinis nyassana Mez Melinis setifolia (Stapf) Hackel Melinis villosipes Mez Panicum busseanum Mez Panicum elongatum Mez Rhynchelytrum nerviglume (Franch.) Chiov. Rhynchelytrum nyassanum (Mez) Stapf & C.E. Hubb. Rhynchelytrum ramosum Stapf & Hubbard Rhynchelytrum rhodesianum (Rendle) Stapf & C.E. Hubb. Rhynchelytrum setifolium (Stapf) Chiov. Rhynchelytrum stuposum Stapf & C.E. Hubb. Tricholaena busseana (Mez) Peter Tricholaena nerviglumis Franchet Tricholaena rhodesiana Rendle Tricholaena rhodesiana var. glabrescens Rendle Tricholaena setifolia Stapf
Common names:	Bristle-leaved red top (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Densely caespitose perennial. Culms (25)40–120(150) cm. high, erect. Leaf laminae (3)10–30(44) cm. long, (1.3)2–3.5(4.5) mm. wide, often involute and setaceous. Panicle (5)8–25(31) cm. long, oblong or narrowly ovate. Spikelets (3.2)3.6–5(5.7) mm. long, narrowly ovate. Inferior glume (0.3)0.5–1 (1.9) mm. long, 0–1-nerved, ovate, inserted close to the superior; superior glume 5–(rarely 7-)nerved, membranous to weakly coriaceous, straight on the back, usually hairy, emarginate, awned or mucronate. Inferior floret male, its lemma 5-nerved, equalling the superior glume, the palea ciliate on its keels.
Notes:	Densely tufted perennial grass, up to 40 - 120 cm. Leaves rolled and wiry. Inflorescence a narrowly oblong to ovate panicle, often hanging on the flexible culms. Spikelets fading from purple-red to silvery white. See M. repens for comparison.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	In grassland and woodland, usually on slopes.
Flowering time:	All year but mostly in summer
Worldwide distribution:	From Gabon to Kenya and South to South Africa. Also in Madagascar, Thailand and Vietnam
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Tuesday 3 October 2017
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 354. (Includes a picture). 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) Pages 126 - 128. Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 136. Jackson, G. & Wiehe, P.O. (1958). An Annotated Check List of Nyasaland Grasses The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland Page 55. As Rhynchelytrum nerviglume and R. nyassanum Jackson, G. & Wiehe, P.O. (1958). An Annotated Check List of Nyasaland Grasses The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland Page 56. As Rhynchelytrum stuposum 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. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 132. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 140. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 149. Van Oudtshoorn, F.P. (1992). Grasses of South Africa Briza Publications, South Africa Page 130. (Includes a picture). Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 86.

Other sources of information about Melinis nerviglumis:

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Flora of Botswana: Melinis nerviglumis
Flora of Burundi: Melinis nerviglumis
Flora of Malawi: Melinis nerviglumis
Flora of Mozambique: Melinis nerviglumis
Flora of Zambia: Melinis nerviglumis
Flora of Zimbabwe: Melinis nerviglumis

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Melinis nerviglumis
African Plant Database: Melinis nerviglumis
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Melinis nerviglumis
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Melinis nerviglumis
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Melinis nerviglumis
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iNaturalist: Melinis nerviglumis
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Melinis nerviglumis
JSTOR Plant Science: Melinis nerviglumis
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Melinis nerviglumis
Plants of the World Online: Melinis nerviglumis
Tropicos: Melinis nerviglumis
Wikipedia: Melinis nerviglumis