Lolium multiflorum (Italian ryegrass, annual ryegrass) is a ryegrass native to temperate Europe, although the precise location of its origin is unknown.
Lolium multiflorum is a herbaceous annual, biennial, or perennial grass that is grown for silage, and as a cover crop.
Lolium multiflorum is also grown as an annual lawn grass and ornamental grass. It readily naturalizes in temperate climates, and can become a noxious weed in agricultural areas or an invasive species in native habitats.
It is sometimes considered a subspecies of Lolium perenne.
It is a host plant to Wheat yellow leaf virus in its native Europe.
Other common names in English include Australian ryegrass, short rotation ryegrass, and Westerwolds ryegrass. It is also one of several species called darnel.