SWEET SCENTED VERNAL GRASS. 155 



than tlio others^, tho two intermediiitc glumes mueli sliortor^ 

 emptyp narrow, kcolodj with an awn on tho back or very near tlie 

 base, tlie two upper glumes miicli shorter, liyaline, obtuse, awn- 

 loss, of which tho fiftli is very broad, including tho narrow 

 1-nerved sixth (or palea ?) and tho flower; other palea 0. 

 Stamens, 2. Styles, distinct, with long, feathery stignnis. Cary- 

 opsis oblong, included by the inner glumes, free. 



Aromatic or sweet scented annuals or perennials, Avith flat 

 loaves. The terminal panicle s2)ike-liko, pedunculate, dense or 

 rather loose, with many very short dense branches. 



Species, four or five, European. 



A. odoratiim, L. Sweet Scented Vernal Grass.— A rather 

 slender, erect perennial, l-2\ ft. high. Leaves slightly hairy, 

 ligule oblong, obtuse, blade of upper leaf about 1 in. long; 

 sheath slightly inflated. Spike-like panicle, LUo in, long- 

 Spikelets ^-^ in. long, linear, oblong. First glume ovate, acute, 

 1-norved, half as long as tho second which is 3-nerved, elliptical 

 when spread out. Tho third and fourth empty glumes emargi- 

 nate, obscurely 5-nervcd below the apex; the straight awn of the 

 former above the middle, projecting {■ its length„ The twisted 

 awn of tho latter below the middle, projecting twice the length 

 of the glume. 



Native of Europe, widely dispersed in temperate Asia, Xorth 

 America, Australia, often sown for pastures and lawns. 



Sweet scented vernal grass is a pretty name, and suggestive of 

 something agreeable, and is one of a very small number of grasses 

 which possess this peculiar odor. The grass is perennial, with a 

 culm one to two feet high. It starts very early in spring and 

 soon flowers. It has often been recommended for lawns and 

 pastures, but for the latter purpose some of the best farmers of 



Fio. Tii.-Antlio.rnnthum odoratum, L. (Sweet Vernal Grass); 1, plant; o, spikelet; 

 b, the same witli the outer K'unies removed ; <•, tlie same as /* with tlie empty flumes 

 removed ; d, the stamens and pistil ; e, tlie pistil with one style removed ; /, one of the 

 hairs from the stigma.— (e, /, from Kunth, tho others by Scribner.) 



