Natal red-top, Natal grass
Melinus repens

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A herb. It is an annual grass that forms tufts. It has runners and can keep growing from year to year. It grows 1.5 m tall. The leaf blade is 20 cm long by 0.2-1.4 cm wide.

It has a C4 pathway.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It suits hot arid places. It can grow in dry sandy soils. It is best in well drained soils. It grows between sea level and 2,600 m above sea level. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,300 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa (country/location of origin), Angola, Antigua-Barbuda, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Britain, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Chad, China, Christmas Island, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Easter Island, East Timor, Egypt, El Salvador, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, Ghana, Guam, Guatemala, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Marquesas, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Socotra, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chiundo, Culana, Zancole

Synonyms

Tricholaena repens (Willd.) A. Hitchc.; Tricholaena rosea Nees; Rhynchelytrum roseum (Nees) Stapf & C. E. Hubb.; Rhynchelytrum repens (Willd.) C. E. Hubbard; Saccharum repens Willd.;