Ryegrass

Ryegrass (Lolium) is a genus of nine species of tufted grasses in the Pooideae subfamily of the Poaceae family. They are characterized by bunch-like growth habits. Also called tares (even though there is no firm evidence that this is the same as the plant given that name in English language translations of the Bible (as in the "Parable of the Tares") - vetches are another candidate), these plants are native to Europe, Asia and northern Africa, but are widely cultivated and naturalized elsewhere. Ryegrasses are naturally diploid, with 2n = 14, and are closely related to the fescues Festuca.