The claw-like auricles are narrow, hairless, and very narrow. The sheath is split, overlapping, and hairless with a reddish base. Ligules are membranous hairless, always short, and truncate. The rolled leaf blade is slender and shiny. It often grows to twelve inches in length.
Sides taper to a tip.
The lower surface is smooth. Distinct adaxial ribs are present, as is a conspicuous midrib. Inflorescence of Annual Ryegrass is compact as a single stalk. It has forty alternating sessile spikelets. They are attached edge on to the main stem with one spikelet per node.