Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness
Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department
of Natural Sciences
Lolium perenne Linnaeus
(Rye Grass)
Family: Poaceae
Status: Exotic
Synonyms:
None
Lolium perenne is an exotic grass that is quite distinctive in appearance. The inflorescence is a spike of spikelets. There are about
10 florets per spikelet.
The spikelets alternate with an edge against the rachis such that they are complanate, all in one plane up the inflorescence. There is only one
glume for each spikelet on closer inspection, with the glume that should be up against the rachis missing. The lemmas are have awns that
are a few millimeters long. The flat, shiny blades are 6-8mm wide. The lemmas are conspicuously 5-veined. Lolium perenne is found in disturbed areas, in gardens and
xeriscapes among rocks.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Lolium perenne, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Silver City, WNMU Campus,
in xeriscape rocks outside the Student Memorial building, October 26, 2016
Lolium perenne, inflorescence, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Silver City, WNMU Campus,
in xeriscape rocks outside the Student Memorial building, October 26, 2016
Lolium perenne, spikelets, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Silver City, WNMU Campus,
in xeriscape rocks outside the Student Memorial building, October 26, 2016
Lolium perenne, root system, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Silver City, WNMU Campus,
in xeriscape rocks outside the Student Memorial building, October 26, 2016
Lolium perenne, herbage, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Silver City, WNMU Campus,
in xeriscape rocks outside the Student Memorial building, October 26, 2016
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