This little grass remains green longer in the summer than Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and it blooms a little later. However, the airy inflorescence of Kentucky Bluegrass is very different from the narrow floral spike of English Rye Grass. Two other introduced species, Lolium muliflorum (Italian Rye Grass) and Lolium temulentum (Darnel), are similar in appearance, but they are less common in Illinois. Italian Rye Grass is larger in size overall, with more lemmas per spikelet (10-20) that are usually awned. Darnel differs from the preceding grass species by having glumes that are longer than than its spikelets; these glumes are ½–¾" long. Because of their distinctive floral spikes, it is relatively easy to identify these three grasses. They should not be confused with Elymus spp. (Wild & Cultivated Rye), which are quite distinct, in spite of the similarity in their common names.