Perennial Ryegrass

 

Scientific Name: Lolium perenne L. 

Family: Poaceae

 

MORPHOLOGY

 

Growth and Size: A perennial herbaceous plant, ranging from 20 to 60 cm in height.

 

Stems: Dense tussocky stems, geniculate-erect, glabrous.

 

Leaves: Linear leaves with a keeled blade of 3-5 mm, truncate ligule of 1 mm.

 

Flowers: Inflorescence: spike with spikelets arranged in a cutting manner, 5-10 flowers of 5-10 mm not awned. It flowers from February to October.

 

Fruits and Seeds: The fruit is a caryopsis.

 

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT

 

Present throughout Italy in fertile and fertilized meadows from 0 to 2,000 m.

 

USE

 

A typical herbaceous species for garden lawns and soccer fields.

 

INTERESTING FACTS

 

It is a species typically grazed as it shows low and dense vegetation with good regrowth and rooting.

 

Photo: Licensed for free use by iNaturalist and by Saxifraga and Willem van Kruijsbergen, Rutger Barendse.