Lolium pratense

Family: Poaceae Genus: Lolium Species: pratense

Synonyms: Bromus pratensis, Festuca poioides, Festuca pratensis, Festuca glabra, Festuca elatior var. racemosa, Festuca pratensis var. hocquettei, Festuca radicans, Festuca pratensis var. simplex, Festuca elatior f. parviflora, Tragus pratensis, Festuca elatior var. parviflora, Schedonorus americanus, Festuca elatior var. radicans, Festuca poioides var. americana, Festuca elatior var. multiflora, Festuca fluitans var. pratensis, Festuca australis, Festuca pratensis f. aristata, Festuca pratensis var. intermedia, Festuca curvata, Festuca pratensis f. parvillora, Festuca pratensis f. mucronata, Festuca elatior var. pratensis, Festuca adscendens, Bucetum pratense, Schedonorus curvatus, Festuca arctica, Festuca pratensis var. subtilis, Poa elatior var. pratensis, Festuca pratensis var. subspicata, Schedonorus pratensis, Festuca elatior var. mucronata, Festuca pratensis var. fasciculata, Festuca elatior subsp. pratensis, × Festulolium ascendens, Schedonorus radicans, Festuca elatior var. floribunda

Botanical Description

Lolium pratense, the meadow fescue (also placed in Festuca and Schedonorus), is a loosely tufted perennial grass 30 to 120 cm tall, with smooth, erect stems and short rhizomes. The flat, soft, bright green leaf blades are smooth or slightly rough, with small claw-like auricles at the base clasping the stem. The inflorescence is a slender, somewhat one-sided, nodding panicle with branches usually in pairs, bearing several elongate, many-flowered, awnless spikelets. It closely resembles tall fescue but is more slender and lacks the coarse texture. Native across Europe and temperate Asia and naturalized in North America, meadow fescue grows in moist meadows, pastures, and grassy places and is valued as a nutritious pasture and hay grass.

Native Region: Afghanistan, Albania, Altay, Austria, Azores, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, Central European Rus, Corse, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East European Russia, Finland, France, Føroyar, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Iceland, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Irkutsk, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Krasnoyarsk, Kriti, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Netherlands, North Caucasus, North European Russi, Northwest European R, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Sardegna, Sicilia, South European Russi, Spain, Svalbard, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuva, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, West Himalaya, West Siberia, Yakutskiya, Yugoslavia

Cultural & Historical Context

Traditional American Uses

None Documented

Chemistry & External Identifiers

Trefle ID

231151

Important Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.

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