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Scientific Name:
Lolium multiflorum
Pronunciation:
LOW-lee-um mul-tih-FLOR-um
Common Name:
annual ryegrass, Italian ryegrass
Family Name:
Poaceae
Plant Type:
Annual, Poales (grass-like)
Key ID Features:
Bunching-tufted habit, +/- very short rhizomes, fast growing, leaf vernation rolled, blade underside glossy, 3-7mm wide, margins smooth, tapering to a sharp and long pointed tip; auricles clasping, claw-like; ligule 0.1-2mm, entire; sheath usually reddish at base. Field ID terms: clasping auricles, rolled, pointy.

Habit:
Form:
Creeping / Mat-like
Texture:
Fine
Mature Height:
Mature Spread:
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Europe
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)
Exposure:
Soil/Growing Medium:
Landscape Uses:
Golf green, Lawn - sports field
Additional Info:
Google. Cultivar shown: L 'Axcella 2'.

Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Grass-like
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Parallel venation
Surfaces:
Shapes:
Linear
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Sheathing
Margins:
Additional Info:
Folded in the bud

Inflorescence Type:
Spikelet, Panicle-like
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
0
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Green, Dark-red
Flower Time at Peak:
May, Jun, Jul, Aug
Additional Info:
Three to six florets per spikelet; spikelets arrannged in open panicle with short penduncle.

Fruit Type:
Grain (caryopsis)
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Additional Info:
6-9mm long; lemma square at apex; awn long; rachilla flat and wide: 500 grains per gram

Bark or Stem Colour:
Organ Modifications:
Rhizomes

Course(s):
  • not used (on campus)
Location(s):
  • (TFL)  Turf Field Lab
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