LOLIUM MULTIFLORUM
14. Lolium multiflorum Lam. Italian Ryegrass.
A glabrous, tufted, short-lived, perennial, very similar to L. perenne and Festuca elatior in general appearance; sometimes seeded in meadow and pasture mixtures but seldom persisting for more than one season.
Leaves rolled in the bud-shoot. Sheath not compressed, not keeled, glabrous, green, pinkish at base, split; margins hyaline and overlapping. Auricles present, 1 to 3 mm. long, soft, flat and pointed or sometimes blunt or clawlike. Collar broad, distinct, continuous, glabrous, pale to yellowish green; margins thin and dilated. Ligule membranous, 0.5 to 2.0 mm. long, obtuse, entire. Blade 4 to 7 mm. wide, 10 to 40 cm. long, soft, bright green; upper surface dull, prominently ridged; lower surface smooth, glossy and slightly keeled; margins smooth at base.
This species is distinguished from L. perenne by its rolled bud-leaves, and from Festuca elatior by its smooth leaf-margins, narrower auricles and longer ligule.