Ryegrass Ryegrass Sutton-in-Ashfield Category="Grasses"Category="Lawn Grasses"
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Ryegrass
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Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Division:Magnoliophyta
Class:Liliopsida
Order:Poales
Family:Poaceae
Genus:Lolium
Species
See text

Ryegrass (Lolium) is a genus of nine species of tufted grasses, family Poaceae. They are native to Europe, Asia and northern Africa, but are widely cultivated and naturalised elsewhere. Ryegrasses are naturally diploid, with 2n = 14, and are closely related to the fescues Festuca.

Ryegrasses contain some species which are important grasses for both lawns and as Pasture and Hay for Livestock, being a highly nutritious stock feed. They are also used in Soil Erosion control programs. It is the principal grazing grass in New Zealand where some 10 million kilograms of certified seed are produced every year. There is an enormous range of cultivars.

Some species, particularly L. temulentum, are weeds which can have a severe impact on the production of wheat and other crops. Ryegrass Pollen is also one of the major causes of Hay fever.

Ryegrass should not be confused with Rye, which is a grain crop.

Species
The following are accepted as distinct species:
Synonyms

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