ANTHOXANTHUM ODORATUM. 
Linnaus. Parnetn. Vani. Martyn. Srinzinerteet. Koou. Smirn. 
SrncnarR. ScHREBER. Porreavu anp Turpryn. Hooxer. 
GrRevILLE. Arnorr. Linpiey. Wuittpenow. Curtis. Leers. 
PLATE TIT. 
The Sweet-scented Vernal Grass. 
Anthoxanthum—A. yellow flower, (from the Greek.) Odoratum—S weet. 
AntTHoxantuum. JZinneus.—Having two stamens and two styles. A 
spiked panicle. The spikelet having one central fertile floret. Two 
glumes. Four glumellas, the two inner ones perfect florets, and awnless; 
the two exterior ones neuter florets, larger, and awned. Only one British 
species. 
Tue pleasant odour that is so very powerful in our hay-fields, 
whilst the grass is drying, owes much of its scent to the present 
species, a scent very similar to that of the Woodruff, ( Asperula 
odorata.) It springs up early, and is a true permanent pasture 
grass, and is to be met with almost everywhere both on strong 
and light soils. 
A common species throughout Europe, and in the more 
northerly parts of North America. 
Panicle upright, form ovate-oblong, with short hairy branches, 
length an inch and a half. Spikelets in form ovate-lanceolate, 
large, erect, four or five together, one awned floret. Calyx two 
remarkably unequal glumes, which are hairy; the larger glume 
is three-ribbed, the outer smaller glume destitute of lateral ribs. 
Floret consisting of two pale, oblong in shape, hairy, brownish, 
the palee equal in size, being half the length of the larger 
glume, and having two awns very dissimilar in length. 
