LOLIUM L.RYE GRASS

LOLIUM L. - RYE GRASS

Scientific Description:

Annual, biennial or perennial. Leaf blades flat or rolled, often auriculate. Inflorescence a stiff terminal distichous spike; spikelets alternate in opposite rows in cavities of ± tough rachis. Rachilla disarticulating above glumes and between florets. Spikelets sessile, ± compressed, 3−16(−22)-flowered, uppermost floret(s) rudimentary. Glumes both present and similar in terminal spikelet, lower glume suppressed in all other spikelets. Lemmas 5−9-veined, rounded on back, awned or awnless. Palea 2-keeled, ± as long as lemma. Lodicules 2. Stamens 3. Caryopsis tightly enclosed by hardened lemma and palea. Embryo elliptic; hilum in a longitudinal furrow equal to length of caryopsis.

Reference:

Mill RR (1985). Lolium L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 9: 445−446.

Public Description:

Lolium is a genus of annual, biennial or perennial herbs, commonly known as “rye grass” and is native to Europe, Asia and northern Africa. There are 11 species in the world and 4 species (8 taxa) in Türkiye. Some species and their cultivars are widely used as garden coverings in lawn landscaping and turf areas. Some species are highly nutritious pasture plants for grazing animals and are important for livestock as a stock feed. On the other hand, they are also used in soil erosion control programs.

References:

Anonymous 1 (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolium /,Accessed date: 29.03.2016.

Anonymous 2 (2016). https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/search/?q=LOL%C4%B0UM / ,Accessed date: 29.03.2016.

Anonymous 3 (2016). http://www.theplantlist.org/1.1/browse/A/Poaceae/Lolium/ // Accessed date: 29.03.2016.

Cabi E, Doğan M (2012). Lolium L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 730–731.