398. WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 
ly very little esteemed by our farmers ; and in this they concur in the 
opinion expressed by Mr. G. Sixcuar, in his valuable Hortus Grami- 
neus, 
25. ANTHOXAN’THOUM, L. Sweer-scentep VERNAL Grass. 
[Greek, Anthos, flower, and anthon, of flowers ; flower of flowers.) 
Spikelets in a condensed, spike-form panicle; each spikelet 3-flowered, 
but the lower two (or apparently map florets neutral, consisting merely 
a narrow palea, which is hai awned on the hack. Perfect floret 
diandrous, with 2 short, smooth, Sous nei: fees thin, acute, 
ape the upper about as long as the flowers and twice the —— of | 
lower. Grain ansbotdr adherent to and pate: by the palex ee | 
1. A. opora’tum, L. Panicle contracted into an oblong spike ; spike- 
lets oni aaa ae spreading, pubescent ; pale of the neutral florets 
cilia’ | 
a GRANT ANTHOXANTHUM. Sweet-scented Vernal Grass. 
Fr. Flouve otoei Germ. Rusch-gras, 
Root perennial. Culm erect, 12-18 inches high, rather slender. Leaves lan nee-tineat, 
shortish (1 (1 or 2- 6 or inches to mee), rage sheaths ne ryed, sulcate ; ligule el ongated, 
membranaceous. Pan spike 1-2 or 3 inches long, becoming yellow 
when mature ; spilkdals me mae what f recent, on short peduncles. Palee of 
very short, obtuse, nearly equal, smooth and shining, the lower one ook broader. 
i i the mar; —one of th i 
a geniculate awn from near the ae — than twice as long as the palea, the other with 
a straight — about as long as the inserted on the back near the summit. Anthers 
linear, larg: i white. Grain oto. blackish saining. 
pbenows and moist open woodlands : introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. May-June. 
uly 
Obs. This has been much noticed, in Europe, as a fragrant meadow- : 
grass ; but it seems rather to belong rs a moist, da, thin soil, ail th 
sally eans regarded, in the United States, as a grass of superior value. 
n cut, and partly dry, it emits a a fragrant odor ; often remarkable 
in new mown hay. The ous Is iste been used in the manufacture of 
imitation orn hats and 
is grass is es plant sine: to by Dr. Sa in the following 
lines of his i smagios tive poem, bait ‘ Botanic Garden 
Eye othe waren uae a 
Bot. “Garden, Part IT. Cianto I. 1.85~ 92. 
26. PHAL’ ies de ears Grass. 
[Greek, Phalos, hinin 
Spikk | en ae ee eo 
