Synonyms: Lolium multiflorum, Lolium perenne, Lolium perenne var. multiflorum, Lolium strictum and more see SEINET Other Common Names: Italian ryegrass, English Ryegrass, winter rye grass Plant Form: Grass
Origin: Introduced   Season: Cool and Warm Habitat Description: Disturbed waste places and seasonally wet areas. Introduced via cultivation. Plant Communities:Disturbed Areas Elevation: Below 6500 feet
General Description
Desc:
Tufted, 4 to 12 inches tall, erect or spreading at the base. Seedheads have alternate multiple flowered spikelets having little or no overlap along the seedhead step. Short-lived. Identification Notes: Annual or short lived perennial, erect or trailing stems; flat glossy blades. Stems reddish at the bases. Spikelets of 5 to 20 florets, awnless or short awns, flattened, alternate going up the stem, sparse, fit into a groove on the stem. Grass Type: Perennial bunchgrass Rhizomes: N Stolons: N Large Dense Clump (> 2 feet): N Bushy (highly branched): N Height with Seedheads: Less than 12 inches Seedhead Structure: Unbranched Seedhead Droops: N Flowering Period: May - Sep Flower Characteristics
Number of Flowers per Spikelet: Multi-flowered Spikelets One-sided: N Awns: Less than 1/4 inch Three Awns: N Awns Bent: N Flower and Seedhead Notes: Seedhead is a symmetrical spike. Spikelets are 5 to 20 flowered. Spikelets lie flat against the axis or sometimes spread from the seedhead stem and are awnless or may bear a very short awn.
Vegetative Charcteristics
Blade Hairy:
N
Blade with White Margins:
N
Blade Cross section:
Flat or folded
Blade Notes:
Blades are dark green, glossy, 3 to 10 inches long and less than 1/3 inch wide, smooth or slightly rough on top surface.
Sheath Hairy:
N
Tuft of Hairs at top of Sheath or Collar:
N
Ligules:
Membranous Auricles (Ear-like lobes at collar area:
Y
Forage Value:
Perennial ryegrass is a palatable and nutritious forage for all classes of livestock and wildlife.
Arizona Cooperative Extension
Yavapai County
840 Rodeo Dr #C
Prescott, AZ 86305
(928) 445-6590