Family: Poaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. pl. 1:83. 1753
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Lolium
Vegetable: False
Observations: Macaronesia, N. Africa, Europe to Siberia and Himalaya
Description
Perennial ryegrass, scientifically known as Lolium perenne, is a prominent grass species widely distributed across various regions, including Macaronesia, North Africa, Europe, Siberia, and the Himalayas. Described initially in the seminal botanical work “Species Plantarum” in 1753 by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus, this grass has established a strong presence in both natural and cultivated landscapes.
Belonging to the Poaceae family, perennial ryegrass is recognized for its robust adaptability and its utility within multiple domains. The species thrives in a variety of climates, from temperate to subtropical zones, demonstrating its remarkable capacity for resilience and growth under diverse environmental conditions.
Perennial ryegrass features a deep green hue and a fine texture, making it an excellent choice for turfgrass in lawns, sports fields, and other recreational areas. Its ability to germinate quickly and form a dense, durable sod contributes to its popularity in land management and erosion control projects. Additionally, it is a common component in pasture and forage systems, offering substantial nutritional benefits to livestock.
The grass displays a perennial growth cycle, ensuring longevity and sustained productivity. It flourishes under proper management, benefiting from regular mowing and an appropriate fertilization regimen. Thanks to its formidable resistance to wear and its attractive appearance, Lolium perenne remains an invaluable asset within the realm of horticulture and agronomy.
In summary, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) stands as a versatile and indispensable grass species, consistently valued for its aesthetic, environmental, and agricultural merits.
Common Names
Dan: almindelig rajgræs
Deu: ausdauernder lolch, ausdauerndes weidelgras, englisches raigras, deutsches weidelgras, englisches raygras
Eng: english ryegrass, italian ryegrass, perennial rye-grass, perennial ryegrass, common darnel, common rye-grass
Por: azevém-perene, azevém-vivaz, lólio-perenne
Spa: ballico perenne, césped inglés, raygras
Nld: engels raaigras
Swe: engelskt rajgräs, englanninraiheinä, renrepe
Fin: englanninraiheinä
Ara: gazun
Fra: ivraie vivace, ray-grass anglais, ray-grass commun, ray-grass d’angleterre
Ita: loglio perenne
Afr: meerjarige raaigras
Nob: raigras
Nno: raigras
Nor: reensjak
Sme: eaŋgalasráisuoidni
Cym: efrwellt parhaus, efryn, efryn cyffredin, efryn parhaus, rhygwellt lluosflwydd, rhygwellt parhaol
En: Perennial ryegrass, English ryegrass, PERENNIAL RYE GRASS, Italian ryegrass, Perennial rye-grass, Common Rye-Grass, Common darnel, Common Ray-grass, Tinker-tailor Grass
Af: Meerjarige raaigras
Ar: Gazun
Ca: Herba de parc, Margall, Margall perenne, Raigràs anglès, Raygrass anglès
Zh: Hei mai cao
Da: Almindelig rajgræs
Nl: Engels raaigras
Fi: Englanninraiheinä
Fr: Ivraie vivace, Ray-grass anglais, Ray-grass commun, Ray-grass d’Angleterre
De: Englisches Raygras, Deutsches Weidelgras, Ausdauernder Lolch, Ausdauerndes Weidelgras, Englisches Raigras, Welches Weidelgras
He: זון רב-שנתי
It: Loglio perenne, Logliarello, Loglio comune
Ja: Hoso-mugi
Ko: Homilpul
Se: Eaŋgalasráisuoidni
No: Reensjak
Nb: Raigras
Nn: Raigras
Pt: Azevém-vivaz, Lólio-perenne, Azevém-perene
Es: Ballico perenne, Césped inglés, Raygras, Pasto Inglés, Raigrás, Ray-grass inglés, Raygrás inglés, Vallico, Grama, Vallica
Sv: Engelskt rajgräs, Englanninraiheinä, Renrepe
Cy: Efrwellt Parhaus, Efryn, Efryn Cyffredin, Efryn Parhaus, Rhygwellt Lluosflwydd, Rhygwellt Parhaol
Synonyms
- Hordeum compressum (Boiss. & Orph.)
- Lolium vulgare (Host)
- Lolium rosetlanum (Fig. & Delile ex Rouville)
- Lolium perenne var. spicatum (Schumach.)
- Lolium perenne var. angustifolium (Parn.)
- Lolium perenne var. compressum (Sibth.)
- Lolium perenne var. stoloniferum (C.Lawson)
- Lolium perenne var. vulgare (Schrad.)
- Lolium trabutii (Hochr.)
- Festuca perennis ((L.) Columbus & J.P.Sm.)
- Lolium perenne f. compositum ((Schrad.) Neuman)
- Lolium perenne f. tenue ((L.) Neuman)
- Lolium perenne var. viviparum (Schrad.)
- Lolium perenne subsp. ramosum (Arcang.)
- Lolium perenne var. secundum (Tinant)
- Lolium glumosum (Planellas)
- Lolium perenne var. orgiale (Döll)
- Lolium perenne var. brasilianum ((Nees) Kuntze)
- Lolium cechicum (Opiz)
- Lolium compressum (Boiss. & Orph. ex Nyman)
- Lolium pseudoitalicum (Schur)
- Lolium jechelianum (Opiz)
- Lolium perenne subsp. stoloniferum ((C.Lawson) Wipff)
- Lolium perenne var. monstrosum (G.Sinclair)
- Lolium perenne var. furcatum (Godr.)
- Lolium perenne var. pacyanum (Plues)
- Lolium strictum var. compressum (Boiss.)
- Lolium perenne var. ramosum (Sm.)
- Lolium perenne var. condensatum (Schur)
- Lolium perenne var. sphaerostachuym (Mast.)
- Lolium perenne var. whitworthiense (G.Sinclair)
- Lolium perenne var. geniculatum (Hallier)
- Lolium cristatum (Pers. ex B.D.Jacks.)
- Lolium marschallii (Steven)
- Lolium repens (Honck.)
- Lolium perenne var. purpurascens (Gray)
- Lolium perenne subsp. compositum ((Schrad.) Arcang.)
- Lolium perenne var. longiglume (Grantzow)
- Lolium perenne var. auriculatum (Hack.)
- Lolium perenne f. microstachyum (R.Uechtr.)
- Lolium montevidense (Rouville)
- Lolium perenne f. polyanthum ((Beck) Neuman)
- Lolium perenne var. paleaceum (Döll)
- Lolium perenne var. pacyi (Sturtev.)
- Lolium perenne var. confertum (Spenn.)
- Lolium perenne var. humile (Gaudin)
- Lolium aechicum (Rouville)
- Lolium perenne var. tenue ((L.) Huds.)
- Lolium perenne var. paniculatum (Gray)
- Lolium agreste (Roem. & Schult.)
- Lolium gmelinii (Honck.)
- Lolium perenne subsp. cristatum ((Pers.) K.Richt.)
- Lolium tenue (L.)
- Lolium latum (Roth ex Steud.)
- Lolium perenne var. pauciflorum (Asch. & Graebn.)
- Lolium perenne var. spurium (Kirschl.)
- Lolium perenne subsp. trabutii ((Hochr.) Dobignard)
- Lolium perenne var. cristatum (Pers.)
- Lolium perenne var. stickneiensis (G.Sinclair)
- Lolium rigidum var. compressum ((Boiss.) Boiss.)
- Lolium perenne var. scabriculme (Maire)
- Lolium perenne subsp. tenue ((L.) K.Richt.)
- Lolium perenne var. russellianum (Sinclair)
- Lolium perenne var. aristulatum (Schur)
- Lolium perenne var. polyanthum (Beck)
- Lolium brasilianum (Nees)
- Lolium felix (Rouville)
- Lolium halleri (C.C.Gmel.)
- Lolium perenne var. commune (Alef.)
Distribution
- Afghanistan (native)
- Albania (native)
- Algeria (native)
- Austria (native)
- Azores (native)
- Baltic States (native)
- Belarus (native)
- Belgium (native)
- Bulgaria (native)
- Canary Is. (native)
- Central European Rus (native)
- Corse (native)
- Cyprus (native)
- Czechoslovakia (native)
- Denmark (native)
- East Aegean Is. (native)
- East European Russia (native)
- East Himalaya (native)
- Egypt (native)
- France (native)
- Germany (native)
- Great Britain (native)
- Greece (native)
- Hungary (native)
- Iran (native)
- Iraq (native)
- Ireland (native)
- Italy (native)
- Kazakhstan (native)
- Kirgizstan (native)
- Krasnoyarsk (native)
- Kriti (native)
- Krym (native)
- Lebanon-Syria (native)
- Libya (native)
- Madeira (native)
- Mauritania (native)
- Morocco (native)
- Nepal (native)
- Netherlands (native)
- North Caucasus (native)
- North European Russi (native)
- Northwest European R (native)
- Norway (native)
- Pakistan (native)
- Palestine (native)
- Poland (native)
- Portugal (native)
- Romania (native)
- Sardegna (native)
- Selvagens (native)
- Sicilia (native)
- South European Russi (native)
- Spain (native)
- Sweden (native)
- Switzerland (native)
- Tadzhikistan (native)
- Transcaucasus (native)
- Tunisia (native)
- Turkey (native)
- Turkey-in-Europe (native)
- Turkmenistan (native)
- Ukraine (native)
- West Himalaya (native)
- West Siberia (native)
- Yugoslavia (native)
- Alabama (introduced)
- Alaska (introduced)
- Alberta (introduced)
- Amsterdam-St.Paul Is (introduced)
- Amur (introduced)
- Antipodean Is. (introduced)
- Argentina Northeast (introduced)
- Argentina Northwest (introduced)
- Argentina South (introduced)
- Arizona (introduced)
- Arkansas (introduced)
- Bahamas (introduced)
- Baleares (introduced)
- Bolivia (introduced)
- Brazil South (introduced)
- British Columbia (introduced)
- California (introduced)
- Cape Provinces (introduced)
- Chagos Archipelago (introduced)
- Chatham Is. (introduced)
- Chile Central (introduced)
- Chile South (introduced)
- China North-Central (introduced)
- China South-Central (introduced)
- China Southeast (introduced)
- Colombia (introduced)
- Colorado (introduced)
- Connecticut (introduced)
- Costa Rica (introduced)
- Crozet Is. (introduced)
- Delaware (introduced)
- District of Columbia (introduced)
- Dominican Republic (introduced)
- Easter Is. (introduced)
- Ecuador (introduced)
- Eritrea (introduced)
- Falkland Is. (introduced)
- Finland (introduced)
- Florida (introduced)
- Free State (introduced)
- Føroyar (introduced)
- Galápagos (introduced)
- Georgia (introduced)
- Greenland (introduced)
- Guatemala (introduced)
- Gulf States (introduced)
- Haiti (introduced)
- Hawaii (introduced)
- Honduras (introduced)
- Iceland (introduced)
- Idaho (introduced)
- Illinois (introduced)
- Indiana (introduced)
- Iowa (introduced)
- Japan (introduced)
- Jawa (introduced)
- Juan Fernández Is. (introduced)
- Kansas (introduced)
- Kentucky (introduced)
- Kerguelen (introduced)
- Kermadec Is. (introduced)
- Khabarovsk (introduced)
- Korea (introduced)
- KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
- Labrador (introduced)
- Lesotho (introduced)
- Louisiana (introduced)
- Maine (introduced)
- Malaya (introduced)
- Manitoba (introduced)
- Maryland (introduced)
- Masachusettes (introduced)
- Mauritius (introduced)
- Mexico Northwest (introduced)
- Mexico Southwest (introduced)
- Michigan (introduced)
- Minnesota (introduced)
- Mississippi (introduced)
- Missouri (introduced)
- Montana (introduced)
- Nebraska (introduced)
- Nevada (introduced)
- New Brunswick (introduced)
- New Caledonia (introduced)
- New Guinea (introduced)
- New Hampshire (introduced)
- New Jersey (introduced)
- New Mexico (introduced)
- New South Wales (introduced)
- New York (introduced)
- New Zealand North (introduced)
- New Zealand South (introduced)
- Newfoundland (introduced)
- Norfolk Is. (introduced)
- North Carolina (introduced)
- North Dakota (introduced)
- Northern Provinces (introduced)
- Northern Territory (introduced)
- Northwest Territorie (introduced)
- Nova Scotia (introduced)
- Ohio (introduced)
- Oklahoma (introduced)
- Ontario (introduced)
- Oregon (introduced)
- Panamá (introduced)
- Pennsylvania (introduced)
- Peru (introduced)
- Primorye (introduced)
- Prince Edward I. (introduced)
- Puerto Rico (introduced)
- Queensland (introduced)
- Québec (introduced)
- Rhode I. (introduced)
- Réunion (introduced)
- Sakhalin (introduced)
- Saskatchewan (introduced)
- Saudi Arabia (introduced)
- South Australia (introduced)
- South Carolina (introduced)
- South Dakota (introduced)
- Sri Lanka (introduced)
- Tanzania (introduced)
- Tasmania (introduced)
- Tennessee (introduced)
- Texas (introduced)
- Tristan da Cunha (introduced)
- Uruguay (introduced)
- Utah (introduced)
- Uzbekistan (introduced)
- Venezuela (introduced)
- Vermont (introduced)
- Victoria (introduced)
- Virginia (introduced)
- Washington (introduced)
- West Virginia (introduced)
- Western Australia (introduced)
- Wisconsin (introduced)
- Wyoming (introduced)
- Yemen (introduced)
- Yukon (introduced)
- Zimbabwe (introduced)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Habit
Taken May 27, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 30, 2021 by Bela Borbely (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 23, 2021 by Jim Becker (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 31, 2021 by Lena Freudenthaler (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 21, 2021 by Terje Norli (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Dec 21, 2019 by nobre jose (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 21, 2021 by Terje Norli (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 26, 2022 by Jim Ridley (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 2, 2021 by Darren Giddins (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 29, 2021 by Violeta Vujasinovic (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken Jul 21, 2021 by Terje Norli (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 21, 2021 by Terje Norli (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 16, 2017 by Pierre Bonnet (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 16, 2017 by Pierre Bonnet (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 27, 2019 by Thijs Van Erp (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Jun 17, 2020 by gustavo gomes (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 29, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Michel ROUGÉ (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 29, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 15, 2021 by Emanuele Santarelli (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 27, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Jun 30, 2021 by Bela Borbely (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 30, 2021 by Bela Borbely (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 5, 2020 by Gilles Istin (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 7, 2021 by a. fedder (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 20, 2021 by Deon Louw (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken May 15, 2017 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken May 31, 1853 by Tela Botanica − Herbier PONTARLIER-MARICHAL (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 21, 2022 by Noah Fleury (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 28, 2022 by Enrico Konrad (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Daniel MATHIEU (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2706241)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:407493-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Lolium perenne L.)
Specifications
Growth form: Bunch
Growth habit: Graminoid
Growth rate: Rapid
Growth
Ph maximum: 7.5
Ph minimum: 5.2
Light: 7
Atmospheric humidity: 5
Soil nutriments: 6
