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Melinis repens
Rose Natalgrass
Natal Red Top
Synonym(s): Rhynchelytrum repens
Not native to Florida
This plant is an invasive exotic that is altering native plant communities by displacing native species, changing community structures or ecological functions, or hybridizing with natives.
This species should never be planted (many with this designation are prohibited by law), and generally should be removed whenever possible.
A common grass of disturbed sites throughout much of Florida. Native to Africa, it has escaped from cultivation and is now found across the southern states from North Carolina to California, plus Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Reaching around 1m (3 ft.) tall, the slender culms are mostly glabrous with pubescent nodes. The ligule hairs are up to 2.2mm (3/16 in.) long. Leaves are up to 27cm (10-1/2 in.) long and 9mm (1/3 in.) wide with mostly flat blades. The rosy-purple inflorescence fades to pink then whitish-silver with age.
Melinis repens is a member of the Poaceae - Grass family.
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: May 18, 2021
