ANTHOXANTHUM ODORATUM. 



Linnjet/s. Paknell. Vahl. Maettn-. SirLLi>-GiXEEi. Koch. Smith. 



SlNCLAIE. ScHBEBEB. PolTEATJ AND TuBBES. HoOKEE. 



Gbeyille. Abbott. Lenblet. Willdenow. Cubits. Leebs. 



PLATE I. 



The Sweet-scented Vernal Grass. 



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



Anthoxahthum. Linrueus. — 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. 



The 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.J 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 paleae, oblong in shape, hairy, brownish, 

 the palere equal in size, being half the length of the larger 

 glume, and having two awns very dissimilar in length. 



