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Species
Lolium multiflorum Lam. (1779)
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This grass is usually an annual, although sometimes it is a biennial or short-lived perennial. It consists of a flowering culm with alternate leaves about 1-3' tall. The culm is pale green, terete, glabrous, and unbranched. The blades of the alternate leaves are up to 8" long and 1/3" (8 mm.) across; they are ascending to widely spreading, linear in shape, and rather floppy. The blades are medium green on both sides, shiny, and hairless; the base of each blade is wider than the sheath or the culm, around which there extends a pair of auricles. The leaf sheaths are pale green to pale reddish green, hairless, and longitudinally veined. At the apex of the culm, there develops a floral spike about 6-10" long, consisting of alternate spikelets along the rachis (flowering stalk). These spikelets are located edgewise along the rachis. The culm often undulates from one spikelet to the next. Each spikelet consists of a single outer glume and 8-20 lemmas with florets. In each spikelet, the ascending lemmas are arranged in 2 overlapping ranks. The glume (8-12 mm. in length) is longer than the lemmas, but shorter than length of the spikelet; it is linear-elliptic, convex along its outer surface, where there are 3-5 longitudinal veins. Each lemma is 6-8 mm. in length, linear-elliptic, and convex along its outer surface, where there are several longitudinal veins. The upper lemmas have awns (shorter than the length of the lemmas), while the lower lemmas frequently lack awns. Each lemma has a single floret with an ovary, 3 stamens, and a pair of feathery stigmata. The blooming period can occur from late spring to fall, but lasts only 2 weeks. The florets are wind-pollinated. Each fertile floret is replaced by an elongated grain. The root system is fibrous. This grass spreads by reseeding itself.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/grasses/plants/it_ryegrass.htm |
Annual, biennial or short-lived perennial; culms 30-130 cm high, tufted or solitary, erect or spreading, slender to rather stout. Leaf-blades (6-)11-22 cm long, 3-8 mm wide, convolute when young, usually with auricles 1-4 mm long at the base. Spikes straight or slightly curved, 15-33(-45) cm long, slender to rather stout, the spikelets overlapping or their own length or more apart. Spikelets 8-30 mm long (excluding the awns), (5-)11-22-flowered; upper glume 5-14 (-18) mm long, 0.25-05 times the length of the spikelet, not much longer than the lowest floret, 3-7-nerved, obtuse, acute or slightly erose; lemmas oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 4-8 mm long, smooth or minutely scaberulous, acute, obtuse or slightly bifid, not turgid at maturity; awns rarely absent, up to 15 mm long.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=200025675 |
More info for the terms: cover, fire interval, natural, shrubs, tree
For years Italian ryegrass has been the most commonly used species for
controlling erosion on burned chaparral sites, especially in northern
California and coastal areas. Seed is usually broadcast aerially in the
fall following the fire but preceding the winter rains. Italian
ryegrass has reliable germination, rapid early growth, a short life
span, abundant fibrous roots, inexpensive seed, and broad site
adaptability [57]. However, the wisdom of ryegrass seeding has been
questioned for decades, and recent literature indicates that postfire
seeding of Italian ryegrass may cause more harm than good. The purpose
of the seeding is to control erosion which is often severe during winter
rains on steep slopes in California. However, studies have shown that
the seeding is not effective at controlling erosion the first year and
may even increase erosion in succeeding years. In addition, Italian
ryegrass outcompetes the recovering native vegetation and may increase
the fire hazard. The controversy is reviewed by Barro and Conard [2]
and Gautier [19], and is summarized here.
Several studies have shown that erosion was not controlled, and even
increased, with Italian ryegrass seeding [23,57]. Erosion was greater
on seeded sites than on unseeded sites of the 1985 Las Pilitas Fire in
the Santa Lucia Range, Monterey County, California. Researchers found
that pocket gopher activity was greater on seeded sites and was the
cause of the increased erosion [57]. Nadkarni and Odion [45] suggest
that as Italian ryegrass declines, vegetative cover on seeded sites may
actually be less than cover on unseeded sites, and thus erosion may be
greater. After the Marble-Cone Fire in the Santa Lucia Range, heavy
rains in January washed 1.2 to 3.1 inches (3-8 cm) of surface soil from
slopes greater than 20 percent. The erosion occurred before seeded
Italian ryegrass had formed an effective cover [23]. Winter rains are
often not sufficient for Italian ryegrass germination until December or
January when the daily temperature is too cool for adequate growth. A
wetting agent applied to the soil surface during the seeding may
encourage earlier germination [11].
Seeding Italian ryegrass may have long-term detrimental effects on
chaparral communities because Italian ryegrass interferes with native
species regeneration. On sites seeded with Italian ryegrass, the
seedbank becomes depleted of fire-following species because they may
germinate but do not establish [45]. After Italian ryegrass dies out it
often leaves behind a thinned out chaparral with considerably fewer
nonsprouting species such as wedgeleaf ceanothus (Ceanothus cuneatus)
than in areas without Italian ryegrass seeding [7]. In seeded plots in
burned chaparral in the Santa Ynez Mountains, California, there was a 40
percent reduction in species diversity compared with unseeded plots.
The predominant native Amador rushrose (Helianthemum scoparium) was less
dense in the seeded treatment, and two other species usually found
(hoaryleaf ceanothus [C. crassifolius] and common turricula [Turricula
parryi]) were absent from the seeded plots. The fire-annual yellow
whisperingbells (Emmenanthe penduliflora) had over 50 percent less cover
on seeded plots than unseeded plots at one site in southern California
[5]. The first year following the Las Pilitas Fire in the Santa Lucia
Mountains, Italian ryegrass interfered with the regeneration of lupine
(Lupinus spp.), lotus (Lotus spp.), and chamise (Adenostoma
fasciculatum) [57]. One year after fire in chaparral in the Santa
Monica Mountains, California, Italian ryegrass cover was negatively
correlated with herbacous species and with island ceanothus (Ceanothus
megacarpus) [9]. Because of the ability of Italian ryegrass to compete
well with woody species, it is recommended for seeding of fire breaks
within chaparral communities [22].
Italian ryegrass restricts tree regeneration where seeded on burned
forested sites. Italian ryegrass interfered with the regeneration of
sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana) and Coulter pine (P. coulteri) seedlings
after the Marble-Cone Fire [23]. Two years after fire on the Stanislaus
National Forest, California, postfire regeneration of ponderosa pine (P.
ponderosa) was absent where Italian ryegrass cover was greater than 40
percent [9].
An additional detrimental effect of postfire seeding is that dense
stands of Italian ryegrass burn readily, and early recurring fire is
destructive to regenerating shrubs [67]. The natural fire interval in
chaparral is about 10 to 100 years [69]. An August 1979 fire on Otay
Mountain, San Diego County, California, was seeded with Italian
ryegrass. The year had near-record precipitation so Italian ryegrass
growth was exceptional. In July another fire occurred in the areas
seeded with Italian ryegrass. This second fire killed nearly all
seedlings of explorer's bush (C. oliganthus), and chamise was reduced by
up to 97 percent. Mission manzanita (Xylococcus bicolor), a postfire
sprouter, suffered substantial mortality. It is believed that such an
early return fire causes drastic shifts in species composition [67].
In the Santa Ynez Mountains a July fire burned into seeded areas but not
unseeded areas 2 years after the original fire [45].
After fire in grasslands containing Italian ryegrass, grazing should be
delayed or reduced to allow Italian ryegrass to recover [30].
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 3
Specimens with Barcodes: 8
Species With Barcodes: 1
Italian ryegrass is palatable to livestock [53].
1.1 Descripción de la especie
Culmos cespitosos de 40 a 100 cm de alto, a veces solitarios, erectos o rígidos, sin ramificaciones o ramificados cerca de la base y lisos o escabrosos hacia la parte superior. Vainas redondeadas en el dorso, con aurículas pequeñas, lisas y glabras, las basales frecuentemente rojizas. Lígulas truncada y membranácea de 1 mm de largo. Laminas de 2 a 25 cm de largo por 4 a 8 mm de ancho, planas y gruesas, convolutas en la prefoliación, lisas y brillantes en la superficie abaxial y opacas y escabrosas o lisas en la superficie adaxial. Inflorescencia una espiga erecta o ligeramente nutante de 10 a 35 cm de largo y con el eje frecuentemente escabroso. Espiguillas de 10 a 20 mm de largo, solitarias y alternas, adpresas, con la base incluida en excavaciones del raquis, muy cercanas entre sí, 5 a 15 flósculos y con la raquilla desarticulándose en segmentos planos y glabros. Glumas segunda gluma por lo general de 6 a 10 mm de largo, más corta que la espiguilla, lanceolada y con el ápice obtuso. Lemas lema de 5 a 8 mm de largo, lanceolada, glabra o ligeramente escabrosa hacia el ápice, obtusa o 2 denticulada, con el dorso redondeado, márgenes y ápice membranáceos, 5 nervada, por lo menos la superior con una arista subapical escabrosa, delgada y recta. Páleas del largo de la lema, 2 aquillada y con las quillas escabrosas. Cariópsis cariópsis 2.6 a 3.8 mm de long, de 0.7 a 1.5 mm de ancho. Flor anteras más o menos lineares (2.5-) 3 a 4.5 (-5) mm de largo, 0.4 a 0.8 mm de ancho, amarillas, púrpura o café rojizo (Beetle et al., 1991; Terrell, 1968).
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ |
Rights holder/Author | CONABIO |
Source | No source database. |
Annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial. Culms tufted, erect or decumbent at base, 0.5–1.3 m tall, 4–5-noded. Leaf blades flat, 10–20 cm × 3–8 mm, glabrous, adaxial surface scabrid, young blades rolled; auricles usually present, 1–4 mm; ligule up to 4 mm. Raceme erect or nodding, 10–30 cm; rachis scabridulous, spikelets overlapping or up to their own length apart. Spikelets 0.8–3 cm, florets 8–22; glume lanceolate, much shorter than spikelet, scarcely exceeding lowest floret, 5–7-veined, margin narrowly membranous, apex obtuse, acute or slightly erose; lemmas oblong-lanceolate, 5–8 mm, 5-veined, apex acute, obtuse or erose; awn up to 5(–15) mm, fine, straight, or upper lemmas awnless; palea equal to lemma, ciliolate along keels. Caryopsis length 3 times width. Fl. and fr. Jul–Aug. 2n = 14.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200025675 |
Italian ryegrass generally decreases after fire. A California annual
grassland site on the coastal foothills near Berkeley burned in July.
Forbs generally increased and grasses decreased in the first growing
season after the fire. Burned sites produced lower Italian ryegrass
yields than unburned sites. Italian ryegrass height was significantly
lower the year after the fire on burned sites than unburned sites [30]:
Average Height (Inches)
Dec 1 Feb 20 May 1
Burned 2.4 3.5 13.7
Unburned 3.7 6.9 16.1
A March 5 fire on a Georgia old field resulted in a significant (P less than 0.05)
decrease in Italian ryegrass yield. The control produced 98.4 grams per
square meter and the burned area produced 47.4 grams per square meter in
the summer following the fire [46].
Italian ryegrass was present (0.1% cover) after a July fire in San
Bernardino County, California. The prefire community, dominated by
brittle bush (Encelia farinosa), had not burned for 21 years and did not
contain Italian ryegrass [65]. The seed source for the postfire
population of Italian ryegrass was not described.
Agropecuario
Su valor forrajero es excelente. Los ballicos son las gramíneas más tiernas jugosas, apetecibles por todos los tipos de ganado. Tanto en estado verde como henificado o ensilado son apetecibles y digestibles en particular para el ganado bovino (Cantú-Brito, 2006).
1.8 Usos de la especie
En áreas donde se reporta como especie invasora es cultivada para césped y como forrajera (Rzedowski &Rzedowski, 2001).
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ |
Rights holder/Author | CONABIO |
Source | No source database. |