Melinis repens is an indigenous grass species that grows a much branched inflorescence. The plant used to be called Rhynchelytrum repens, commonly known as Natal red top.

The species is widely distributed, found throughout South Africa, in all nine provinces and in southern Africa. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat in the twenty first century (Van Wyk and Malan, 1997; http://redlist.sanbi).