37 



DIANDRIA DIGYNIA. 

 16. ANTHOXANTHUM. Vernal-grass. 



Linn. Gen. 18. Juss. 29. Fl. Br. 31. Lam. t. 23. 



Nat. Ord. Gramina. Linn. 4. Grainhiece. 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 aiim jointed. Nect. 

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

 men. Stam. protruding, capillary. Anth. 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. L'lnn. Sp. PL 40. JVillcl. v. 1. 156. Vahl Enum. v. 1. 



310. FL Br. 31. EngL Bot. v. 9. t. 647. Curt. Lond. fuse. 1. t.A. 



Hook. Scot. 11. Mart. Rust. t.23. StiUingJi. t.\. Schreb. Gram. 



49. t. 5. Leers 6. t. 2./. I . Poit. et Turp. Par. t. 39. SincL 7. 

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



In meadows and pastures very common. 



Perennial. May, June. 



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

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

 hairy j 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 x\\q: flowers of this genus, given 

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



