PHALARIDEZ 
panicle; spikelets brown and shining; lateral Wy 
florets (often awned) with 3 stamens, the i) 
central perfect floret with 2 stamens. The W\y 
best known species is S. odorata (L.) Scribn., & WA 
WY 
or vanilla-grass, a native of northern Europe Ni; 
and America. The name vanilla-grass refers \ Wi 
to the fragrant odor of the foliage. Fragrant NH 
baskets, boxes and mats are woven of the Wy 
long leaves of the sterile shoots, by the 
American Indians. Commonly called 
holy-grass in Europe. (Hierochloé 
R. Br.) 
227. Anthoxanthum L.—lInflores- 
cence a bronze-green spike-like panicle. 
One species, A. odoratum (Fig. 32), 
sweet vernal grass, a native of Europe, 
introduced in the cooler parts of the 
United States. Like vanilla-grass, it 
is fragrant, for which reason it is 
sometimes cultivated as a constitu- 
ent of meadow-grasses to impart a 
pleasant odor to the hay. Sweet ver- 
nal grass is useless as a forage-grass. 
A. aristatum Boiss. (A. Puelii 
Lecog & Lamotte), an annual species 
is sometimes cultivated in the west 
and southwest. 
Anthoxzanthum odoratum L. Sweet vernal 
grass. Perennial; culms in tufts, without 
rhizomes, erect, slender, smooth, 1 to 2 feet 
high; sheaths smooth or somewhat pubescent; 
ligule membranaceous, 2 to 5 mm. long; 
blades flat, thin, scabrous, 1 to 3 inches long, 
M 
193 
Fic. 33. Phalaris arun- 
dinacea. Inflorescence, 
x 4; spikelet and fertile 
floret, X65. 
