Lolium L.

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton, S. M. Phillips And S. A. Renvoize. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1974

Morphology General Habit

Annuals or perennials

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades flat or rolled, auriculate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a stiff 2-sided spike, the spikelets alternate in opposite rows with one edge sunk in hollows in the continuous axis

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 3–12-flowered, the uppermost florets reduced; lower (adaxial) glume suppressed in all except the terminal spikelets and there similar to the upper; upper glume persistent, external, linear to oblong, 5–9-nerved, becoming hardened; lemmas rounded on the back, 5–9-nerved, awnless or with a straight awn from near the tip; palea as long or nearly as long as the lemma

Distribution

Species ± 12; temperate Europe and Asia, widely introduced elsewhere

Note

Some of the species will also hybridize freely with certain species of Festuca, and this has sometimes been considered an indication that the two genera should be united. The taxonomy of the genus is confused by the relative ease with which the species will hybridize and introgress

Gramineae, E. Launert. Flora Zambesiaca 10:1. 1971

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets sessile, solitary, 3-11-flowered, usually laterally compressed, rarely subcylindrical, awned or muticous; florets hermaphrodite but the uppermost often reduced; rhachilla disarticulating above the glumes and between the florets, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes 2 in the uppermost terminal spikelet, 1 (the superior) in the lateral spikelets, persistent, abaxial, 7-9-nerved, linear to oblong, chartaceous to coriaceous, not keeled, with the apex obtuse to acute, awnless.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma

Lemmas 5-7(-9)-nerved, membranous to chartaceous, dorsally rounded, oblong with the apex subobtuse and usually shortly 2-dentate, glabrous, awnless or awned from near the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Palea

Paleas about as long as the corresponding lemmas, 2-keeled, chartaceous-membranous, elliptic or oblong, apex obtuse and often minutely 2-dentate, keels crested or ciliate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Lodicules

Lodicules 2, minute, ovate-lanceolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary glabrous, obovate-truncate, styles distinct, rather short, plumose for the whole length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis elliptic-oblong to linear-oblong in outline, dorsally with a longitudinal groove, ventrally sulcate, with a short apical appendage; hilum linear.

Morphology General Habit

Annuals or perennials of various habitats.

Morphology Leaves Ligules

Ligule a hyaline membrane.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a solitary terminal spike, with the spikelets arranged in 2 ranks on opposite sides of the rhachis and inserted alternatively in depressions edgewise to it.

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Morphology General Habit

Perennial. Culms 30-100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes single; bilateral; bearing 6-17 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis semiterete. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; distant. Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 3-13 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 10-26 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 3-13 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 10-26 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 0.7 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Fertile lemma elliptic; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid.

Distribution

Europe.