Perennial ryegrass is used throughout the world because of its valuable characteristics including high, excellent quality forage yields, long season production, rapid germination and adaptation to many climatic conditions. Perennial ryegrass is a bunchgrass and has a shallow fibrous root system; the majority of roots occur in the top 15 cm of soil. Despite the lack of rhizomes, perennial ryegrass tillers freely and forms a dense sod. The leaves are dark green, dense, glossy and folded when young. The leaf blades are short and narrow. Auricles are short or absent. The stems are 30 to 60 cm tall and end in a slender, stiff spike that can be up to 30 cm long. Perennial ryegrass is crosspollinated and selfincompatible, and will readily cross with fescue species such as meadow and tall fescue. There are diploid and tetraploid varieties and a wide range in plant maturity and persistence.

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