Lolium multiflorum Lam.

synonyms: Lolium italicum


Italian ryegrass, annual ryegrass


Info

Subfamily: Pooideae
Genus etymology: Lolium is a troublesome weed referenced by the Roman poet Virgil, perhaps darnell (Lolium temulentum)
Species etymology: multiflorum = "many flowers" [Latin] refering to it having more florets than related species
Photosynthetic type: C3 (cool season)
Nativity: naturalized - intentional
First recorded in Hawaiʻi: 1904

Map

 Distribution of Lolium multiflorum in Hawaiʻi.

Inflorescence

Lolium multiflorum Inflorescence
Lolium multiflorum Inflorescence

Spikelets

Lolium multiflorum Spikelets
Lolium multiflorum Spikelets
Lolium multiflorum Spikelets
Lolium multiflorum Spikelets
Lolium multiflorum Spikelets
Lolium multiflorum Spikelets
Lolium multiflorum Spikelets
Lolium multiflorum Spikelets

Description

Plants annuals or short-lived perennials. Culms to 150 cm. Leaves rolled in the bud; blades usually 10-30 cm long, (2)3-8 (13) mm wide. Spikes 15-45 cm, with 5-38 spikelets; rachises 0.8-2 mm thick at the nodes, not flexuous. Spikelets 8-31 mm long, 2-10 mm wide, with (10)11-22 florets. Glumes 5-18 mm, 1/4-1/2 as long as the florets, membranous to indurate; lemmas 4-8.2 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, usually awned, awns to 15 mm, attached 0.2-0.7 mm below the apices, rarely unawned; paleas shorter than to slightly longer than the lemmas; anthers (2.5)3-4.5(5) mm. Caryopses 2.5-4 mm long, 0.7-1.5 mm wide, 3 or more times longer than wide. 2n = 14.
(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_multiflorum )

Annuals or short-lived perennials, usually without basal innovations; culms ascending or erect, 5-10 dm tall, smooth to scabrous in lower part. Sheaths glabrous, persistent at base of the plant, auricles well developed, crescent-shaped, up to 1.5 mm long; ligule 0.5-1.5 mm long; blades flat or slightly involute, (3-)3.5-7(-10) mm wide, upper surface scabrous. Spikes erect, (10-) 14-27(-30) cm long; spikelets distichous, appressed against rachis, 6-10(-15)-flowered, 9-15(-20) mm long; second glume narrowly lanceolate, 4-9(-12) mm long, usually ca. 1/2 as long as the spikelet, apex obtuse to rounded; lemmas lanceolate, 5- 6.6(-7.5) mm long, 5-neryed, glabrous to scabrous, margins inrolled, apex obtuse to acute, those of the lower florets mucronate, those of the upper florets with awns 1-5(-8) mm long produced from a minutely bifid apex; palea about as long as lemma, 2- nerved, margins finely ciliate, keels winged. Caryopsis brown, dorsally compressed, obovoid to ellipsoid, 3-4 mm long. [2n = 14.]
(Description source: O’Connor, P.J. 1990. Poaceae, pp. 1481–1604. In: Wagner W.L., Herbst D.R. & Sohmer S.H. (eds.)., Manual of the flowering plant of Hawaiʻi. Vol. 2. University of Hawaii Press & Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu )