Agrost. Helv. 1: 334 (1811).- Type:
Lolium strictum C. Presl, Cyper. Gramin. Sicul. 49 (1820);
Lolium perenne var. rigidum (Gaudin) Coss. & Durieu, Expl. Sci. Algérie 2:194 (1855);
Lolium multiflorum var. rigidum (Gaudin) Trab., Fl. Algérie, Monocot. : 238 (1895).
Regional litterature: Fl. Mauritania: 403, fig (1991); Fl. Libya: 21, fig. (1988).
Description:
* Erect annual of 20-45 cm high. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 2-4-noded, branched at the base, glabrous, reddish purple towards the base. Leaves linear acuminate, 5-17 cm long and 3-8 mm wide, dark green, glabrous; ligule an eciliate membrane, 1-1.5 mm long, truncate or obtuse; sheaths smooth or scaberulous.
* Inflorescence a stiff single flattened raceme of 3-30 cm long with 2-19 spikelets. Rhachis subcylindrical, excavated; spikelets 2-rowed, sunken ar appressed, sessile.
* Spikelets with 2-12 fertile florets, laterally flattened and diminished florets at the apex, oblong, 5-18 mm long and 1-3 mm wide, disarticulating below each fertile floret. Lower glume absent or obscure; lower glume lanceolate, 4-20 mm long. Lemmas lanceolate, 3-8.5 mm long, coriaceous with a subapical awn of 0-2 mm long. Anthers 3, 1-3 mm long; caryopsis wothin persistent palea and lemma.
Distribution West Africa: Mauritania.
Distribution world-wide: Western Sahara, Morocco, Algeria, Tunesia, Libya, Egypt Mediterranean, S Europe, W Asia into Pakistan, introduced in South Africa, Australia, Americas
Quite variable.