Lolium perenne L. Perennial Rye Grass

Lolium perenne L. - Perennial Rye Grass

Scientific Description:

Laxly to densely caespitose, turf-forming perennial. Stems (9−)13−65(−100) cm, with 2−4 nodes. Ligule to 2.5 mm. Auricles inconspicuous or absent. Leaf blades 5−25 cm × 0.5−5 mm, glabrous, folded in young shoots. Spike straight or slightly curved, (2−)5−20(−27) cm. Rachis slender, flexuous, 0.5−1.5 mm thick at nodes, glabrous or scabridulous only on angles. Spikelets 4.5−18 mm, with 3−11 fertile and 0−1 rudimentary florets. Upper glume lanceolate to narrowly oblong, (2.5−)4.5−10(−15) mm. Lemma 3.5−7 mm, oblong or oblong-lanceolate; awn absent. Mature caryopses 2.9−5.5 × 0.7−1.5 mm.

Flowering time: April−August.

Habitat: Meadows, pastures, sand dunes, waste places, s.l−2050 m; often cultivated.

Reference:

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

Public Description:

Lolium perenne, known as “perennial rye grass”, is native to Europe, Asia and northern Africa, but is widely cultivated and naturalised around the world. It is a perennial herb and grows up to 100 cm in length. It blooms between April and August and is found in meadows, pastures, sand dunes, and waste places. Perennial Rye Grass and its cultivars are widely used as garden coverings in lawn landscaping and turf areas. It is highly nutritious pasture plants for grazing animals and is important for livestock as a stock feed. On the other hand, it is also used in soil erosion control programs.

References:

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

Anonymous 2 (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.