ryegrass

 

short-lived perennial, leafy, tufted plant belonging to the family Gramineae (grass family). Two species are grown in the United States—Italian rye grass (Lolium multiflorum), the leading hay grass of Europe, and English, or perennial, rye grass (L. perenne). In parts of the United States where winters are mild, both are sowed, often mixed with other grains, for pasturage. Italian rye grass is much used for lawns in warmer regions of the United States. Perennial rye grass was probably the first of all perennial grasses to be cultivated pure for forage. Poison rye grass, or darnel (L. temulentum), reputed to be poisonous, grows in grain fields and waste places; it is thought to be the tare of the Bible. Rye grass is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Liliatae, order Cyperales, family Gramineae.

Ryegrass
Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Poales Family: Poaceae Genus: Lolium L.
Species
See text

Ryegrass (Lolium) is a genus of nine species of tufted grasses, family Poaceae. Also called tares, these plants are native to Europe, Asia and northern Africa, but are widely cultivated and naturalised elsewhere. Ryegrasses are naturally diploid, with 2n = 14, and are closely related to the fescues Festuca.

Ryegrass should not be confused with Rye, which is a grain crop.

Species

The following are accepted as distinct species:

• Lolium canariense Steud. - Canary Islands Ryegrass
• Lolium edwardii H.Scholz, Stierst. & Gaisberg
• Lolium multiflorum Lam. - Italian Ryegrass
• Lolium perenne L. - Perennial Ryegrass
• Lolium persicum - Persian Ryegrass or Persian Darnel
• Lolium remotum Schrank
• Lolium rigidum Gaudin - Stiff Darnel, Wimmera Ryegrass
• Lolium temulentum L. - Darnel, Poison Darnel

Cultivation and uses

Ryegrasses contain some species which are important grasses for both lawns, notably at The Championships, Wimbledon, and as pasture and hay for livestock, being a highly nutritious stock feed. They are also used in soil erosion control programs. It is the principal grazing grass in New Zealand where some 10 million kilograms of certified seed are produced every year. There is an enormous range of cultivars. The primary species found worldwide and utilized for both lawns and as a forage crop is perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). Like many cool-season grasses, it is often infected by a clandestine, fungal endophyte which lives symbiotically within its leaves.

Some species, particularly L. temulentum, are weeds which can have a severe impact on the production of wheat and other crops. Ryegrass pollen is also one of the major causes of hay fever.

Synonyms

• L. ambiguum = Lolium multiflorum
• L. annuum = Lolium temulentum
• L. arundinaceum = Festuca arundinacea
• L. berteronianum = Lolium temulentum
• L. brasilianum = Lolium perenne
• L. canadense = Lolium perenne
• L. crassiculme = Lolium rigidum
• L. cuneatum = Lolium temulentum
• L. dorei = Lolium persicum
• L. giganteum = Festuca gigantea
• L. gracile = Lolium temulentum
• L. lepturoides = Lolium rigidum subsp. lepturoides
• L. marschallii = Lolium perenne
• L. parabolicae = Lolium rigidum
• L. pratense = Festuca pratensis
• L. remotum = Lolium temulentum subsp. remotum
• L. romanum = Lolium multiflorum
• L. scabrum = Lolium multiflorum
• L. siculum = Lolium multiflorum
• L. subulatum = Lolium rigidum subsp. lepturoides
• L. teres = Lolium rigidum subsp. lepturoides
• L. trabutii = Lolium rigidum

References

• Flora Europaea: Lolium

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