Common Name: Molasses Grass

General Information

Melinis minutiflora is a tufted perennial grass growing up to 150 cm tall[]. The plant is often sticky, with a characteristic odour of molasses or cumin[].
An essential oil obtained from the plant is used as an insect repellent. The plant is also grown in soil stabilization schemes.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Sierra Leone to Ethiopia, south to S. Africa.

Habitat

Bush, shady places, at forest edges and in open grassland, often on steep, rocky slopes, at elevations up to 2,200 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants can be grown in tropical to subtropical climates, where they can be found at elevations from sea level to 2,500 metres[]. Plants grow best in areas where the mean annual temperature falls within the range 22 - 30°c, though they can tolerate 8 - 36°c[]. Dormant plants can be killed by temperatures down to -5°c, whilst young growth is killed at -1°c[]. They prefer a mean annual rainfall in the range 900 - 1,700mm, tolerating 700 - 2,700mm[].
Requires a sunny position[]. The plant succeeds on a variety of well-drained soils, with surface textures ranging from sands to medium clays[]. Tolerant of low fertility, though it grows better in fertile soils[]. Prefers a Ph in the range 5 - 7.5, but tolerates 4.3 - 8.4[]. Plants are relatively drought-hardy over a dry season of four to five months[].
The plant spreads quickly under favourable conditions, it is listed as a weed in many countries[, ].
Seedling plants are vigorous and establish quickly[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant can be used for erosion control[]. A vigorous grass, it is valuable as a pioneer species to suppress weeds and hold disturbed soil (ashes or a finely prepared cultivation) against erosion[]. When mature it will burn so fiercely that its own seeds and roots are killed, leaving the land clear for future plantings[].

Other Uses

An essential oil known as 'Efwatakala grass' is obtained from the plant[, ]. It has the aroma of cumin and is used as a mosquito and tsetse fly repellent[, ].

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ either surface sowing or only just covering the seed[]. Seeds germinate best at 20 - 30°c, especially when moistened with water[].

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