1b. var. perenne (English rye)

Pl. 178 c

Plants perennial (sometimes short‑lived), with sterile offsets produced from short stolons, forming clumps. Leaf blades 2–5 mm wide. Spikelets 5–22 mm long, with 2–10 florets. Glume usually 1/2–2/3 as long as the rest of the spikelet. Lemmas awnless or rarely with awns 0.5–8.0 mm long. 2n=14, 28. May–August.

Introduced, widely scattered in Missouri (native of Europe, cultivated nearly worldwide). Pastures, roadsides, railroads, and open, disturbed areas.