Common name: Wimmera Ryegrass
Lolium rigidum Gaudin APNI* Synonyms: Lolium rigidum var. rottboellioides Heldr. ex Boiss. APNI*
Description: Caespitose annual to 0.9 m high, base often reddish purple; sheaths loose around culm.
Leaves with sheath ribbed, glabrous, occasionally scabrous; ligule membranous, 1–2 mm long, obtuse; auricles c. 2 mm long, glabrous; blade flat, rolled or folded when dry, to 0.6 cm wide, ribbed, glabrous, sometimes upper surface scabrous.
Inflorescence spicate, 13–32 cm long, to 1.5 cm wide; rachis thickened, scabrous. Spikelets 7–18 mm long, 3–5 mm wide, ± embedded in rachis, florets 4–8. Lower glume only on terminal spikelet; upper 5–15 mm long, c. 1.5 mm wide, subulate, thickened, ribbed. Lemmas 6–8 mm long, acute, 5-nerved, usually base of outermost nerves scabrous, glabrous, awnless or with terminal awn 0.5–2 mm long. Palea as long as lemma.
Flowering: spring.
Distribution and occurrence: Grown as a pasture species and widespread weed of crops. Native of Medit. region.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *SC, *NT, *CT, *ST, *NWS, *CWS, *SWS, *NWP, *SWP, *NFWP, *LHI
Other Australian states: *Qld *Vic. *W.A. *S.A.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & K. L. McClay
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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