Italian Ryegrass
Common Name: Italian Ryegrass
Other Names: Annual Ryegrass, Marshall Ryegrass
Species Name: Lolium perenne L. ssp multiflorum
Plant Type: Grasses & Grass-like
Family Name: Poaceae
Examples of Italian Ryegrass Lolium perenne L. ssp multiflorum
| Habitat/Ecology | Description |
|---|---|
| Origin | Introduced, Europe |
| Duration | Annual |
| Season | Cool |
| Distribution in the U.S. | Introduced to every state in the U.S. |
| Distribution in Oklahoma | Beckham, Bryan, Choctaw, Cleveland, Custer, Grady, Marshall, Murray, Payne and Pontotoc counties |
ID Characteristics
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Field Identification Characteristics
- Inflorescence: A spike up to 30 centimeters in length; anthers three; yellow or purple
- Spikelets: Spikes are terminal and flat with spikelets that are placed edgewise and alternate along the flowering stem; the spikes are often as long as 12 inches
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Leaf and Stem Characteristics
- Sheath: Smooth clasping auricles
- Stem: Often purplish at the base, from 1 to 2.5 feet tall
- Blade: Flat, smooth, shiny blades 1/8 to 1/4 inches wide, dark green with prominent veins; leaf blade is rolled in the bud
- Ligule: Membranous, can grow to 1/10 inch in length
- Auricle: Small and narrow, can be up to 1/12 of an inch long
| Habitat/Ecology | Description |
|---|---|
| Soil Type | Varying |
| Habitat | Roadsides, waste areas, cultivated crop fields, lawns and pasture; normally restricted to lowland habitats |
| Successional Stage | Early |