Ryegrass, Perennial Ryegrass

Lolium perenne L.

Poaceae


Description

Ryegrass is an annual or short-lived perennial, cool season, introduced species that ranges from 24 to 36 inches or 61 to 91 cm tall.    The erect stems are dark green with dark, swollen joints. and prominent auricles at the leaf collar. Lemmas are awned. There are ridges on the leaf’s upper surface, and the lower surface is smooth and glossy.     The inflorescence ranges from 3 to 12 inches or 8 to 30 cm in length. Its flowers are yellow. Spikelets are set edgewise and fit into the concave rachis. The seeds do not have awns. Seeding rates vary based on local growing conditions. 

Habitat

Grown as a lawn, meadow, and improved pasture grass. It is also used as a soil stabilizer. Increases on all disturbed sites. It is native to Europe, but it is found throughout the United States. Its use in Texas is restricted by its lack of extreme temperature and drought tolerance. Perennial Ryegrass can be found on roadsides, open fields, croplands, and pasturelands.  

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