Darnel
Lolium temulentum
Lolium temulentum, typically known as darnel, poison darnel, darnel ryegrass or cockle, is an annual plant of the genus Lolium within the family Poaceae. The plant stem can grow up to one meter tall, with inflorescence in the ears and purple grain.
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Ori Fragman-Sapir, all rights reserved, uploaded by Ori Fragman-Sapir
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Poales
Family
Poaceae
Genus
Lolium
Darnel belongs to the family Poaceae, order Poales, within the Liliopsida class.
Species Profile
Lolium temulentum, typically known as darnel, poison darnel, darnel ryegrass or cockle, is an annual plant of the genus Lolium within the family Poaceae. The plant stem can grow up to one meter tall, with inflorescence in the ears and purple grain. It has a cosmopolitan distribution.
Darnel (Lolium temulentum) has experienced severe population declines primarily due to modern agricultural practices and herbicide use that have eliminated this former crop weed from most of its historical range. The species was once widespread as a weed in cereal crops but intensive farming methods and effective weed control have reduced it to critically low numbers across Europe and other regions where it was previously common.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Darnel (Lolium temulentum) has experienced severe population declines primarily due to modern agricultural practices and herbicide use that have eliminated this former crop weed from most of its historical range. The species was once widespread as a weed in cereal crops but intensive farming methods and effective weed control have reduced it to critically low numbers across Europe and other regions where it was previously common.
Habitat loss from agricultural intensification
Herbicide use and intensive weed control
Modern agricultural practices eliminating crop weeds
Loss of traditional farming systems
Seed cleaning technology removing weed seeds
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Darnel (Lolium temulentum). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/darnel