Family: Poaceae
Lolium multiflorum
Citation:
Lam., Fl. Franc. 3:621 (1779).
Synonymy: L. italicum A. Braun, Flora 17:259 (1834); L. perenne L. var. multiflorum Parnell, Grasses Brit. 302 (1845).
Common name: Italian ryegrass.
Description:
Annual to 120 cm; stems straw-coloured to reddish at maturity; leaf blades to 20 cm x 6 mm, acute, glabrous beneath, glabrous or (occasionally) scabridulous above, generally shiny in appearance.
Spike 5-30 cm; rhachis generally thin but occasionally slightly rigid, to 1.2 mm diam.; spikelets 4-18 x 2-5 mm, with 4-14 fertile and 0-2 rudimentary florets; glumes lanceolate or narrowly oblong, from half to almost the same length of the spikelet; lemma with an awn to 5 (or rarely to 10) mm.
Published illustration:
Burbidge (1970)Australian grasses 3:pl. 70.
Distribution:
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Only known from high rainfall areas where it readily hybridises. True L. multiflorum is rare in S.Aust.
S.Aust.: SL, SE. All States. Native to Europe but also arising spontaneously in situ where the parent species are growing together.
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Conservation status:
naturalised
Flowering time: Sept. — Dec.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
No text
Uses:
This hybrid has not been differentiated in agriculture but is part of the annual rye-grass complex providing valuable feed in pastures. It is also a major crop weed.
Taxonomic notes:
Previously not distinguished in Australia. The characters are more or less intermediate to those of its parents. The name L. hubbardii Jansen & Wachter has been applied to this hybrid, but the name was invalidly published (see Kloot, 1983).
Author:
Not yet available
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