Wimmera Rye-grass

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Wimmera Rye-grass - Paul Gullan/Viridans Images

Lolium rigidum

Open tussock to 1 m tall. Leaves dark green, flat, 25 cm long and 3-5 mm wide, upper surface evenly ribbed, lower surface smooth and shiny. The flowerhead is a 20 cm long spike.

Details
Flora Type
Grasses
Distinctive Features

Long tightly packed flower spike. Purple colouring on leaf bases and stem nodes.
Biology

Annual. Dies back each year but re-establishes itself by setting seed. The seed stays viable in the soil for several years. Used as a pasture grass in the lower rainfall areas of temperate Australia.
Native Status
Introduced
Flowering Time

Aug-Dec
Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Poales
Family
Poaceae
Genus
Lolium
Species
rigidum

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Seedheads may become infected with a bacterium that can cause stock poisoning.

Interesting Facts
Native Status
Introduced