| Synonyms: |
Melinis goetzenii Mez Melinis longicauda (Mez) Stapf & C.E. Hubb. Panicum longicaudum Mez Rhynchelytrum bequaertii Robyns Rhynchelytrum longicaudum (Mez) Chiov. Rhynchelytrum shantzii Stapf & C.E. Hubb. |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | |
| Description: |
Leaf laminae often involute, (11)14–30 cm. long, 2–4(7) mm. wide. Spikelets (2.7)3.3–4.4(5.2) mm. long. Inferior glume 0.5–1.2 mm. long; superior glume with an awn (1.8)2.5–7(8.3) mm. long. Inferior floret male, rarely barren, its lemma with an awn 6–13(14) mm. long; palea present, scabrous on its keels. |
| Type location: |
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| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | ambigua: doubtful, of uncertain relationship |
| Habitat: | Secondary grassland at higher elevations, rarely Brachystegia woodland or anthropogenic sites |
| Altitude range: (metres) | 1000 - 2500 m |
| Flowering time: | |
| Worldwide distribution: | Angola, DRC, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
| FZ divisions: | N |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 353. Clayton, W.D. (1989). Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(3) Pages 121 - 123. Jackson, G. & Wiehe, P.O. (1958). An Annotated Check List of Nyasaland Grasses The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland Page 48. As Melinis longicauda Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 106. |