ANTHOXANTHTTM ODORATUM. 



ANTHOXANTHUM ODORATUM. 



LINN^US. PARNELL. VAHL. MARTYN. STILLINGFLEET. KOCH. SMITH. 



SINCLAIR. SCHREBER. POITEAU AND TURPIN. HOOKER. 

 GREVILLE. ARNOTT. LINDLEY. WILLDENOW. CURTIS. LEERS. 



PLATE I. 



The Sweet-scented Vernal Grass. 

 Anthoxanthum A yellow flower, (from the Greek.) Odoratum Sweet. 



ANTHOXANTHUM. Linnceus. 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. 



pleasant odour that is so very powerful in our hay-fields, whilst 

 -L 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 paleaD, 

 oblong in shape, hairy, brownish, the paleaa equal in size, being half 

 the length of the larger glume, and having two awns very dissimilar 

 in length. 



Stamens consisting of two, which extend beyond the spikelet. 

 Anthers oblong, and notched at the extremities. Styles brief and 

 smooth. Ovarium oblong. Stigmas long, downy, and extending beyond 



