| Synonyms: |
Lolium brasilianum Nees |
| Common names: | Perennial ryegrass (English) |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | |
| Description: |
A caespitose perennial. Similar in habit to the preceding species. Leaf-laminae 3-20 cm. x 0·2-0·6 mm. Spikes 4-30 cm. long, stiff, slender to somewhat stout. Spikelets 7-20 mm. long, 4-14-flowered, elliptic to obovate-elliptic in lateral view. Superior glume shorter than the rest of the spikelet, 5-7-nerved, narrowly lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, with the apex usually obtuse, smooth. Lemmas 5-7 mm. long, 5-nerved, muticous, imbricate, ovate-oblong or oblong, apex acute to sub-obtuse. Paleas with the keels scaberulous. Anthers 3-4 mm. long. Caryopsis c. 4·5 mm. long. |
| Type location: |
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| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | |
| Habitat: | Growing as a weed in waste places, in arable land, roadsides, on sandy soil and on the edges of irrigated fields |
| Altitude range: (metres) | |
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| Worldwide distribution: | throughout Europe, North Africa and the temperate areas of Asia, introduced into other temperate and subtropical parts of the globe, Zimbabwe |
| FZ divisions: | C,E |
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| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
Jackson, G. & Wiehe, P.O. (1958). An Annotated Check List of Nyasaland Grasses The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland Page 68. Launert, E. (1971). Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(1) Pages 43 - 45. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 106. |