262 Lolium multiflorum Lam.

This widespread species originates, as with L. perenne, from C. Europe, the Mediterranean region and adjacent parts of Asia. It has been spread as a fodder grass (subsp. italicum [A. Br.] Volk.) to several parts of the world, for instance to N. Europe, parts of Africa and E. Asia, N. and S. America, Tasmania and New Zealand. S of the line through S. Europe a primitive, annual type also occurs, viz. subsp. gaudinii (Parl.) Sch. & Kell.