Common name: Molasses Grass
Melinis minutiflora P.Beauv. APNI* 
Description: Stoloniferous, aromatic perennial to 1.2 m high.
Leaves with sheath often with hairs to 5 mm long, otherwise pubescent with tubercle-based hairs to 1.5 mm long; ligule a ciliate rim with hairs 0.5–2 mm long; blade flat, to 13 mm wide, glabrous, pubescent or scattered with rigid tubercle-based hairs to 1 mm long.
Inflorescence contracted, 8–15 cm long, to 3 cm wide (excluding awns), purplish. Spikelet c. 2 mm long (excluding awn), to 1.5 mm wide; florets 2, lower floret male, upper floret bisexual. Lower glume < 0.25 mm long; upper c. 2 mm long, 2-lobed, mucro or short awn in sinus. Male lemma c. 2 mm long, 2-lobed, awn in sinus; lobes < 0.5 mm long; awn to 8 mm long; palea absent. Bisexual lemma c. 2 mm long, 2-toothed, awnless, smooth; palea subequal to lemma.
Flowering: summer.
Distribution and occurrence: Planted for pasture and erosion control; north from Coffs Harbour. Native of Afr.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *LHI
Other Australian states: *Qld
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & K. L. McClay
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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