Melinis repens yellowish inflorescence

The inflorescence of Melinis repens, also called fairy grass for its dainty appearance is here creamy and in parts approaching yellow. The open plume is sometimes shining silvery, mauve or pink and silky, depending on age, conditions and region.

The spikelet becomes about 6 mm long, bearing two florets. The lower one is male if not sterile. The two glumes (bracts subtending the florets of grasses) are boat-like, hairy and unequal. The lower lemma (one of two upper bracts at the floret), resembles the upper glume, but is narrower, less pouched and also hairy. The upper floret is bisexual.

There are three stamens as well as an ellipsoid, hairless ovary topped by a free style and branched stigma (Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; Van Oudtshoorn, et al, 1991; Lowrey and Wright, 1987).