Lolium pratense
Biostatus
Exotic
Conservation status
Not applicable
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Grasses
Simplified description
Perennial grass. Similar to tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) but generally smaller. From tall fescue, it differs by having only 2 spikelets on the smaller branch at the lowest panicle node and not having minute hairs on the auricles. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolium_pratense.
Detailed description
Auricles hairless; spikelets with (2-) 4-10 (-12) florets; old sheaths brown, decaying to fibers; internodes of the rachilla hairless or nearly so https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/show-key.php?highlighttaxonid=2306#K39771L12a
Similar taxa
Lolium arundinaceum, which has auricles with hairs (sometimes only very sparsely so – check several at 10-20× magnification); spikelets with 3-6 (-9) florets; old sheaths pale straw-colored, often remaining intact; internodes of the rachilla antrorsely scabrous. https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/show-key.php?highlighttaxonid=2306#K39771L12a
In tall fescue, the lowest branch of inflorescence is binate (forked) each with 3 or more spikelets
Distribution
Not known for sure (Edgar and Connor 2010) but, as at 2025, observations in Canterbury appear to be this taxon.
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Synonyms
Schedonorus pratensis (Huds.) P.Baeuv.
Endemic family
No
Other information
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/143251898