Italian Rye Grass

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Italian ryegrass
• annual ryegrass
• Italian Rye-Grass
• Westerwold ryegrass
• Westerwolds ryegrass
• lovitto ryegrass
• Australian Ryegrass
• Italian grass
• Italian rye
• Short Rotation Ryegrass

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lolium aristatum
• Lolium italicum var. aristatum
• Lolium multiflorum var. ramosum
• Lolium multiflorum var. laeviculme
• Lolium multiflorum var. latifolium
• Lolium multiflorum var. siculum
• Lolium multiflorum var. brachypodiatum
• Lolium multiflorum var. submuticum
• Lolium multiflorum var. complanatum
• Lolium multiflorum var. compositum
• Lolium italicum var. brachypodiatum
• Lolium perenne subsp. multiflorum
• Lolium italicum var. ramosum
• Lolium multiflorum var. excelsum
• Lolium multiflorum var. longiaristatum
• Lolium multiflorum var. longiaristatum
• Lolium multiflorum f. microstachyum
• Lolium multiflorum var. muticum
• Lolium multiflorum f. submuticum
• Lolium multiflorum var. scabrum
• Lolium multiflorum subsp. gaudinii
• Lolium perenne subsp. italicum
• Lolium multiflorum var. aristatum
• Lolium multiflorum subsp. ramosum
• Lolium multiflorum var. gaudinii
• Lolium compositum
• Lolium ambiguum
• Lolium scabrum
• Lolium siculum
• Lolium temulentum var. multiflorum
• Lolium temulentum var. ramosum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Lolium multiflorum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Poales. Furthermore, it is a member of the family Poaceae and falls under the genus Lolium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely recognized for its presence across various regions of Northern Europe. Specifically, its distribution includes the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. It can also be found growing naturally throughout the landscapes of Finland. Furthermore, the species is well-established within the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its geographical reach extends further north into the rugged terrain of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Lolium multiflorum is characterized by a broad vertical distribution, spanning an elevational range from 0 to a maximum of 3500 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant adaptability to various landscapes, frequently colonizing anthropized areas (Área Antrópica) where human activity and land modification have altered the natural terrain. Its ability to thrive across such a diverse altitudinal gradient allows it to persist in environments ranging from lowland plains to high-altitude montane zones, often establishing itself in disturbed soils typical of human-influenced habitats.

Elevational range max:

3500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Genetics

The genetics of Lolium multiflorum are characterized by a relatively stable chromosomal structure, most notably defined by its ploidy level. The species is predominantly diploid, possessing a ploidy level of 2, which dictates its fundamental genomic organization and reproductive patterns. This diploid status serves as the genetic baseline for the species, influencing its evolutionary trajectory, phenotypic expression, and ability to undergo potential polyploidization events in response to environmental pressures. The inheritance of traits within this diploid framework ensures a specific pattern of genetic recombination during meiosis, which plays a critical role in maintaining the genetic diversity and adaptability of the population across various ecological niches.

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Lolium multiflorum is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. In terms of its growth habit and survival strategy, the species functions as a therophyte, relying on seeds to endure unfavorable periods, and is also classified as a hemicryptophyte, where its perennating buds are located at the soil surface to facilitate survival. Furthermore, the plant maintains an evergreen status throughout its active vegetative phase, ensuring continuous photosynthetic capability before it reaches maturity and completes its reproductive cycle.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Lolium multiflorum is characterized by a graminoid growth form, functioning as a non-woody herb. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, growing independently as a non-parasitic plant. The plant exhibits a self-supporting habit rather than a climbing or vine-like structure, maintaining an erect shoot orientation. In terms of stature, it displays significant variation in height, with individual plants ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 1.3 m, resulting in a mean plant height of approximately 0.478 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.3 m

Plant height mean:

0.478333333333333 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lolium multiflorum is characterized by its status as a non-carnivorous organism that utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway for energy production. Its leaf morphology exhibits significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.1 cm to a maximum of 30 cm. The leaves typically maintain a mean width of 0.6 cm, though they can vary from a minimum of 0.3 cm to a maximum of 1.1 cm, resulting in a mean leaf size of 6.06 cm². Furthermore, the plant displays a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 300.62 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and its physiological strategy for light interception and resource allocation.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

30 cm

Leaf length min:

0.1 cm

Leaf size mean:

6.06 cm²

Leaf width max:

1.1 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.6 cm

Leaf width min:

0.3 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

300.62 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Lolium multiflorum is characterized by a sexual process utilizing bisexual flowers, although self-fertilization is notably absent. The plant produces a spike-type inflorescence that ranges in length from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.3 m. The flowering period typically begins in July and concludes in August. During this stage, the individual flowers measure between 0.5 cm and 0.9 cm in length. The pollination syndrome is classified as abiotic, specifically relying on the wind to facilitate pollen transfer. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces dry fruits that contain a high yield of seeds, with counts ranging from 101 to 1000 seeds per fruit. The seeds themselves are quite small, maintaining a consistent mean length of 3 mm, a mean width of 1 mm, and a mean volume of 2.7 mm³. The seed mass varies from a minimum of 0.00141 g to a maximum of 0.00515 g, with a mean mass of approximately 0.00273 g. Dispersal is categorized as unspecialized, though it also exhibits anthropochorous traits, meaning seeds are often spread through human activity. No asexual reproduction methods were observed for this species.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower length max:

0.9 cm

Flower length min:

0.5 cm

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit dryness :

dry

Inflorescence :

spike

Inflorescence length max:

0.3 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.1 m

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

3 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00515 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00273033825 g

Seed mass min:

0.00141 g

Seed volume max:

2.7 mm³

Seed width mean:

1 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Lolium multiflorum has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include STARCH, Perloline, Temuline, caffeic acid, cystine.

STARCH

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Perloline

1. Dr. Duke

Temuline

1. Dr. Duke

caffeic acid

1. Pharmaceutical biology

cystine

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

ferulic acid

1. Pharmaceutical biology

kaempferol

1. Pharmaceutical biology

lysine

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

methionine

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

myricetin

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Activities

Lolium multiflorum has 11 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Absorbent, Antidote (Iodine), Antinesidioblastosic, Antioxidant, Convulsant.

Absorbent

1. Dr. Duke

Antidote (Iodine)

1. Dr. Duke

Antinesidioblastosic

1. Dr. Duke

Antioxidant

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Convulsant

1. Dr. Duke

Emollient

1. Dr. Duke

Intoxicant

1. Dr. Duke

Mydriatic

1. Dr. Duke

Narcotic

1. Dr. Duke

Photodynamic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Lolium multiflorum has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include oxidative damage.

Oxidative damage

1. Pharmaceutical biology