Lolium multiflorum

Illustrator: Cindy Roché

Copyright: Utah State University

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.

Discussion

Lolium multiflorum, a European species, now grows in most of the Flora region. It is planted as a cover crop, as a temporary lawn grass, for roadside restoration, and for soil or forage enrichment; it often escapes from cultivation, becoming established in disturbed sites.

Lolium multiflorum and L. perenne are interfertile and intergrade. Lolium multiflorum differs from L. perenne in being a taller, shorter-lived perennial or annual with wider leaves that are rolled, rather than folded, in the bud. Hybrids between the two species are called Lolium xhybridum Hausskn. Lolium multiflorum also hybridizes with L. rigidum; those hybrids are called Lolium xhubbardii Jansen & Wacht. ex B.K. Simon.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.