Lolium temulentum L.

Stiff, stout, erect annuals, 35–100 cm; branching intravaginal. Leaf-sheath glabrous, light brown. Auricles to 1 mm, spreading, or 0. Ligule 0.8–1.5 mm, truncate. Leaf-blade 10–22 cm × 3–4.5–(6) mm, flat, abaxially glabrous, adaxially scaberulous or rarely smooth; margins smooth below, scabrid near tapered acute tip. Culm 20–60 cm, internodes closely scabrid above or smooth. Spike 10–20–(34) cm, erect; rachis 1–2 mm wide, smooth or finely scabrid on convex side, margins scaberulous. Spikelets 10–30 mm, 5–12-flowered, green; florets turgid at maturity. Upper glume 10–22 mm, < to > spikelet, 7–9-nerved, rigid, oblong-lanceolate, obtuse or subacute, smooth or scabrid. Lemma 5.5–9.5 mm, elliptic to ovate, smooth below, becoming hard at maturity, apex hyaline, scabrid, bifid, awned from sinus; awn fine, strongly scabrid, 1–13 mm, or 0. Palea = lemma. Anthers 2–3 mm. Caryopsis 5–6 × 2–2.5 mm.

[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]