94 



THE TRUE GRASSES. 



Fig. 41. — Anthoxanthum odoratum 

 (After Nees, Gen. Germ. pi. 16.) 



98. (103) Anthoxanthum L. Spikelets in short, spike- 

 like panicles, narrow ; first and second empty glumes 

 unequal, herbaceous ; third and fourth clothed with 



brown hairs. Flowering 

 glume and palea short, 

 membranaceous ; lodicules 

 none ; stamens two. 



Species four, in Europe, 

 one of them in Northern 

 Asia, North America, and 

 Australia. A. odoratum L. 

 (Sweet Vernal-grass) (Fig. 

 41) is fragrant on account 

 of its containing cumarin, 

 and is often wrongly con- 

 sidered a valuable forage- 

 plant ; it forms a low turf 



which can scarcely be mowed, and its taste is unpleasant 



to cattle. 



99. (104) Hierochloe Gmelin (Savastana Schrad., Dis- 

 arrenum Labill., Torresia Ruiz & Pav.). Inflorescence 

 an open or close panicle. Spikelets shining, having one 

 apparently terminal $ flower with two stamens, and 1-2 

 $ flowers below, each with three stamens. Flowering 



glume of the male flower frequently awned. Glumes all 

 membranaceous, those surrounding the fruit indurated. 

 All contain cumarin. 



Species thirteen, throughout 

 the temperate and frigid zones, 

 rarely in high mountains of 

 the tropics. H. odorata Wahlb., 

 Vanilla grass (Fig. 42), is very 

 fragrant, but useless for for- 

 age, as it is disliked by most 

 animals. [The long leaves of 

 the sterile shoots are woven 

 into mats and small boxes by fig. w.-Hierochioeodorataw&hib. 

 the North American Indians.] (After Nees, Gem Germ.) 



The five species with only one $ flower form the section 

 Ataxia (Brown as a genus). 



