Darnel

Darnel is the common name for several grasses in the genus Lolium, particularly Lolium temulentum, the wild darnel, which is often considered a weed in cereal crops. The term also covers related species such as Lolium rigidum and Lolium perenne in some contexts. Darnel is a cool-season grass that can infest fields of wheat, barley, oats, and other cereals and thrives in disturbed soils.

Description and habitat: Darnel grows as an annual or short-lived perennial plant, reaching roughly 30 to 100 cm in height. It has slender leaves and a dense inflorescence of spikelets. The grain is small and can resemble cereal grains, making it easy to confuse with intended crops during harvest. It is found across temperate regions, including Europe, western Asia, parts of Africa, and introduced areas in North America and elsewhere.

Toxicity and historical context: Darnel has a long-standing association with poisoning when contaminated grain is eaten as bread or fodder. The plant can produce toxins, and seeds may be contaminated by fungal pathogens such as ergot, leading to symptoms including nausea, dizziness, headaches, and, in severe cases, convulsions. Modern agricultural practices, cleaning, and milling reduce these risks, though the plant’s reputation persists in historical sources as “drunken grass.”

Ecology and management: Darnel is a weed of croplands and pastures, particularly in cool, moist environments. Management includes crop rotation, field sanitation, careful seed cleaning to remove darnel from harvested grain, mechanical weeding where feasible, and the use of herbicides in appropriate systems. Reducing seed-to-crop contamination remains a key goal in grain production.

Uses: Due to its toxicity, darnel is generally avoided for human consumption, though it has occasionally been used as forage in some traditional settings under strict controls.