HOW TO KNOW THE GRASSES 



3a. Lower 2 florets owned, sterile. Fig. 274. 



SWEET VERNAL GRASS 



Anthoxanthuzn odozatum L. 



Figure 274 



Perennial; tufted; plants 30 — 60 cm. tall; 

 panicles yellowish-brown, cylindrical, dense, 

 usually less than 6 cm. long; glumes very 

 thin and delicate. The 2 hairy sterile lem- 

 mas are split at the tip and owned from the 

 middle of the back. Sweet vernal grass has 

 the delightful fragrance of coumarin, which 

 persists long after the plants are dried. This 

 species was introduced from Europe, presum- 

 ably as a meadow plant to add fragrance to 

 hay. Now it is widely established as a weed 

 of roadsides, woods, and meadows, except in 

 the dry parts of the United States. It is one 

 of the earUest of spring grasses, blooming 

 from the middle of April to July in the north- 

 ern states. 



3b. Lower 2 florets ownless, staminate. Fig. 275. 



HOLY GRASS HierocWoe odorata (L.) Beauv. 



h ij 



Perennial; culms 30 — 60 cm. tall, 

 single or in small tufts, arising from 

 slender creeping rhizomes. Holy grass 

 is an attractive species, with handsome 

 shining golden brown panicles. The 

 glumes are very thin and translucent. 

 The plants have the sweet, vanilla-like 

 scent of coumarin, and were used by 

 the American Indians as material for 

 basketry, and in Europe as perfume in 

 certain religious ceremonies. Moist 

 meadows, bogs, and prairies. April — 

 July. 



Figure 275 



145 



