Melinis minutiflora
Encyclopedia
Melinis minutiflora, commonly known as molasses grass, is a species of grass
. It has been weedy in Australia, where it has been introduced.
Minutiflora Melinis is a Perennial grass of genus Melinis
. It is a native of Africa
. It spreads in the form of mat. Presents stem
s erect up to 1.5 meters high. The leaves are covered with fragrant foliage and sticky, reddish inflorescence. It blooms for short periods. It is believed that the fresh smell ofM. minutiflora repels insects and snakes.
It was introduced in tropical countries for livestock feed, for animal husbandry, and soon was naturalized. However, it is considered a invasive species
in many parts of the world, is relevant to Pacific Islands, provided by the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW), including Hawaii, Brazil
, Venezuela
, Colombia
, and may have contributed to the disappearance of native species in different regions. It has been used, yet as pioneer species in poor soil planting and neutralizes other weeds that may appear.
Exotic grasses are becoming increasingly abundant in Neotropical savannas, with Melinis minutiflora Beauv. being particularly invasive. Tested the effect of this species on the establishment, survival and growth of seedlings of seven tree species native to the savannas and forests of the Cerrado region of Brazil. Seeds of the tree species were sown in 40 study plots, of which 20 were sites dominated by M. minutiflora, and 20 were dominated by native grasses. The exotic grass had no discernable effect on initial seedling emergence, as defined by the number of seedlings present at the end of the first growing season. Subsequent seedling survival in plots dominated by M. minutiflora was less than half that of plots dominated by native species. Consequently, at the end of the third growing season, invaded plots had only 44% as many seedlings as plots with native grasses. Above-ground grass biomass of invaded plots was more than twice that of uninvaded plots, while seedling survival was negatively correlated with grass biomass, suggesting
that competition for light may explain the low seedling survival where M. minutiflora is dominant.
Poaceae
The Poaceae is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of flowering plants. Members of this family are commonly called grasses, although the term "grass" is also applied to plants that are not in the Poaceae lineage, including the rushes and sedges...
. It has been weedy in Australia, where it has been introduced.
Minutiflora Melinis is a Perennial grass of genus Melinis
Melinis
Melinis is a genus of grass in the Poaceae family.- Selected species :M. affinis MezM. ambigua Hack.M. angolensis RendleM. arenaria Hack.M. argentea MezM. ascendens MezM. bachmannii Mez...
. It is a native of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. It spreads in the form of mat. Presents stem
Stem
-Science:* Plant stem, the above ground structures that have vascular tissue and that support leaves and flowers Also see similar:**Stipe **Stipe * Stem cell...
s erect up to 1.5 meters high. The leaves are covered with fragrant foliage and sticky, reddish inflorescence. It blooms for short periods. It is believed that the fresh smell ofM. minutiflora repels insects and snakes.
It was introduced in tropical countries for livestock feed, for animal husbandry, and soon was naturalized. However, it is considered a invasive species
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
in many parts of the world, is relevant to Pacific Islands, provided by the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW), including Hawaii, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, and may have contributed to the disappearance of native species in different regions. It has been used, yet as pioneer species in poor soil planting and neutralizes other weeds that may appear.
Exotic grasses are becoming increasingly abundant in Neotropical savannas, with Melinis minutiflora Beauv. being particularly invasive. Tested the effect of this species on the establishment, survival and growth of seedlings of seven tree species native to the savannas and forests of the Cerrado region of Brazil. Seeds of the tree species were sown in 40 study plots, of which 20 were sites dominated by M. minutiflora, and 20 were dominated by native grasses. The exotic grass had no discernable effect on initial seedling emergence, as defined by the number of seedlings present at the end of the first growing season. Subsequent seedling survival in plots dominated by M. minutiflora was less than half that of plots dominated by native species. Consequently, at the end of the third growing season, invaded plots had only 44% as many seedlings as plots with native grasses. Above-ground grass biomass of invaded plots was more than twice that of uninvaded plots, while seedling survival was negatively correlated with grass biomass, suggesting
that competition for light may explain the low seedling survival where M. minutiflora is dominant.