Lolium multiflorum
| Lolium multiflorum | |
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| Species: | L. multiflorum
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| Lolium multiflorum | |
Lolium multiflorum (Italian ryegrass, annual ryegrass) is a ryegrass native to temperate Europe, though its precise native range is unknown.[1]
It is a herbaceous annual, biennial, or perennial grass that is grown for silage, and as a cover crop.[2][3] It is also grown as an ornamental grass. It readily naturalizes in temperate climates, and can become a noxious weed in agricultural areas and an invasive species in native habitats.[1]
It is a host plant to wheat yellow leaf virus in its native Europe.[4]
It is sometimes considered a subspecies of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). It differs from L. perenne in its spikelet, which has a long bristle at the top, and its stem, which is round rather than folded.
It can be mistaken for couch (Elymus repens), which has spikelets along the broad side of the stem rather than the edge.[5]
Other common names in English include Australian ryegrass, short rotation ryegrass, and Westerwolds ryegrass. It is also one of several species called darnel.
References
- ^ a b Quattrocchi, Umberto (2006). CRC World Dictionary of Grasses: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology - 3 Volume Set. CRC. p. 2408. ISBN 978-0-8493-1303-5.
- ^ Cosgrove, Dennis (1999-12-02). "Rygrass types for pasture and hay". Agronomy Advice. Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences University of Wisconsin Extension and Cooperative Education. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Moseley, G. (September 1988). "The nutritional evaluation of Italian ryegrass cultivars fed as silage to sheep and cattle". Grass and Forage Science. 43 (3). United Kingdom: Blackwell Synergy: 291–295. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2494.1988.tb02154.x. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
{{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Lapierre, H. (2004). Viruses and Virus diseases of Poaceace (Gramineae). France: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique. p. 605. ISBN 978-2-7380-1088-9.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Readers Digest Nature Lovers Library Field Guide To Wild Flowers Of Britain, 1998, page 416
