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Info
Subfamily: Pooideae
Genus etymology: Lolium is a troublesome weed referenced by the Roman poet Virgil, perhaps darnell (Lolium temulentum)
Species etymology: arundinaceum = "reed like" [Latin] refering to the culms resembling a reed
Photosynthetic type: C3 (cool season)
Nativity: naturalized - intentional
First recorded in Hawaiʻi: 1904
Map
Inflorescence
Plant
Habit
Spikelets
Collar
Viviparous inflorescence
Description
Plants perennial, sometimes rhizomatous. Culms to 1.5(2) m. Leaves convolute in young shoots; auricles ciliate, having at least 1 or 2 hairs along the margins; ligules 1(2) mm; blades 11-30 cm long, 4-12 mm wide. Panicles 10-35 cm; branches at the lowest node usually 2, shorter branch with (1)2-9(13) spikelets, longer branch with (3)4-13(19) spikelets. Spikelets 8-15.5 mm long, 2-3.5 mm wide, with 3-6(9) florets. Lower glumes 3-6 mm; upper glumes 4.5-7(9) mm; lemmas (4)5-9(11.5) mm, usually scabrous or hispidulous, at least distally, rarely smooth, awns absent or to 4 mm, terminal or attached up to 0.4 mm below the apices; paleas slightly shorter than to slightly longer than the lemmas; anthers 2.5-4 mm. Caryopses 2-4 mm long, 0.9-1.6 mm wide. 2n = 28, 42, 56, 63, 70.
(Description source: Barkworth, M.E., Capels, K.M. & Long, S. (eds.) 1993. Flora of North America, north of Mexico. Volume 24. Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Poaceae, Part 1. Oxford University Press, New York. 911 pp. http://floranorthamerica.org/Lolium_arundinaceum )