DIANDRIA— DIGYNIA. Anthoxanthum. 37 



has no fruit formed ; but by Dr. Browne's description it ap- 

 pears that one flower only proves perfect, or fertile. — In the hot 

 dry summer of 1825, in Cheshire, each spike ripened two, or 

 even three, seeds. Mr. W. Wilson. 



DIANDRIA DIGYNIA. 

 16. ANTHOXANTHUM. Vernal-grass. 



Linn. Gen. IS. Juss. 29. Fl. Br. 31 . Lam. t. 23. 



Nat. Orel. Gramina. Linn. 4. Graminece. Juss. 10. Br. 

 Pr. 168. See next class. 



Cal. single-flowered, of 2 ovate, pointed, concave valves ; 

 the inner largest. Cor. of 2 equal valves, shorter than 

 the cal. awned at the back; the longer ctjo?i jointed. Ncct. 

 2 ovate, thin, minute scales, clasping the base of the ger- 

 men. Stam. protruding, capillary. Antli. oblong, forked 

 at each end. Germ, superior, oblong. Styles short. 

 Stigmas erect, long, downy. Seed 1, roundish, acute at 

 each end, naked, unconnected with the glumes. 



True grasses. Stem jointed. Panicle dense, compound. 



1. A. odoratum. Sweet-scented Vernal-grass. 

 Panicle spiked, ovate-oblong. Flowers longer than their 



awns, on short partial stalks. 

 A. odoratum. Linn. Sp. PL 40. Willd. v. 1 . 1 5 6. Vahl Enum. v. I . 



310. Fl.Br.3\. Engl. Bot.v.9. t.647. Curt.Lond.fasc. 1. t.4. 



Hook. Scot. 11. Mart. Rust. t.23. Stillingfl. t. 1. Schreb.Gram. 



49. t. 5. Leers 6. t. 2. /. 1 . Poit. 8s Turp. Par. t. 39. Sincl. 7. 

 Gramen vernum, spica brevi laxa. Raii Sijn. 398. 

 In meadows and pastures very common. 

 Perennial. May, June. 

 Root fibrous. Stems slender, rigid, smooth, a foot high, with 1 or 



2 joints, tasting like lavender. Leaves flat, bright green, a little 



hairy ; each with a white, membranous, sheathing stipula. Fl. 



generally closed, brownish ; turning yellow with age. In drying 



the plant exhales the odour of Woodruff, and is the chief cause 



of the fragrance of new hay. 

 For a new and very curious view of the flowers of this genus, given 



by Mr, Brown, see Hierochloe, Gen.41. 



