Bearded darnel
Lolium temulentum
Synonyms: Lolium temulentum var. scabrum, Festuca temulenta, Lolium maximum, Lolium gussonei, Lolium arvense var. minus, Lolium robustum, Lolium temulentum subvar. robustum, Lolium temulentum f. muticum, Lolium temulentum var. dissitum, Lolium temulentum var. macrochaeton, Lolium album, Lolium longiglume, Lolium temulentum subsp. speciosum, Lolium aegyptiacum, Lolium temulentum var. arvense, Lolium temulentum var. decipiens, Lolium temulentum var. brevisetum, Lolium arvense var. majus, Lolium temulentum var. aristatum, Lolium speciosum, Lolium temulentum var. agricolum, Lolium speciosum var. scabrum, Lolium arvense var. liniforme, Lolium temulentum subsp. robustum, Lolium temulentum subsp. arvense, Lolium temulentum var. muticum, Lolium temulentum var. album, Lolium temulentum subsp. gussonei, Lolium asperum, Lolium infelix, Lolium decipiens, Loliola pratensis, Lolium temulentum var. robustum, Lolium lucidum, Lolium temulentum var. semiglabrum, Lolium temulentum var. laevigatum, Lolium triticoides, Lolium arvense var. speciosum, Lolium temulentum var. submuticum, Lolium temulentum f. macrochaeton, Lolium temulentum subvar. speciosum, Lolium temulentum f. arvense, Lolium giganteum, Lolium temulentum f. leve, Lolium temulentum var. leptochaeton, Lolium temulentum subsp. gracile, Lolium pseudolinicola, Lolium cuneatum, Lolium arvense var. minor, Bromus temulentus, Lolium arvense var. geniculatum, Lolium arvense var. muticum, Lolium temulentum var. maximum, Lolium temulentum var. laeve, Lolium arvense var. major, Lolium temulentum var. robustissimum, Lolium temulentum f. robustum, Lolium remotum subvar. asperum, Craepalia temulenta, Lolium remotum f. asperum, Lolium temulentum subsp. cuneatum, Lolium temulentum f. speciosum, Lolium arvense, Lolium temulentum var. subbivalve, Lolium arvense var. hostii, Lolium berteronianum, Lolium temulentum var. longisetum, Lolium annuum, Lolium temulentum var. speciosum
Gallery
Botanical Description
Lolium temulentum, bearded darnel or poison ryegrass, is an annual grass in the family Poaceae with a near-cosmopolitan distribution as a weed of cultivation, especially in cereal crops. Slender, erect culms reach up to about a metre tall and bear flat, scabrid leaf blades. The inflorescence is a stiff, terminal spike with spikelets set edgewise into alternate notches of the rachis; each spikelet has a single outer glume and several florets bearing long awns. The grains, deep purple-black when fully ripe, closely resemble those of wheat, a similarity reflected in regional names such as 'false wheat'. The plant is frequently colonised by an endophytic fungus (Neotyphodium sp.) whose loline alkaloids, sometimes compounded by ergot infection, make ingestion of the grain toxic and intoxicating to humans and livestock.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Chemistry & External Identifiers
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.