56 THE GRASSES OF MAINE. 



Specimens from Illinois gave ash 9.32, fat 4.06, nitrogen-free 

 extract 41). 45, crude fiber 23.02, albuminoids 14.15. 



64. Hierochloa alpina, R. and 8. 

 Hi-e-roclt -lo-a cd-pf-na. 



Common Name. Alpine Holy Grass. 



Stems erect, from six to twelve inches high ; stem-leaves short. 

 Panicle contracted, from one to two inches long ; spikelets oblong, 

 compressed, longer than the pedicels. 



This species grows on the summits of mountains and flowers in 

 July. 



Genus Anthoxanthum, Linneus. 



An-tliox-an -thum . 



From the Greek, anthos, a flower, and xanthos, 3'ellow. 



Panicle somewhat spiked ; spikelets three-flowered, the two lower 

 ones represented only by a single-awned flowering glume each, which 

 are hairy on the outside and notched at the end. from the bottom of 

 which the awns arise. The upper glume is fully as long as the 

 flowers, somewhat hairy and twice the length of the lower glume. 

 Stamens three. 



65. Anthoxanthum odoratum, Linneus. 

 An-thox-an -thum o-do-ra'-tum. 

 PLATE XXXIV. 



Common Names. Sweet Vernal Grass, Sweet-Scented Vernal 

 Grass. 



Perennial. Stems erect, slender, from twelve to eighteen inches 

 high ; leaves more or less pubescent ; ligule elongated. Panicle 

 usually contracted into more or less of a spike which is of a brown- 

 ish color or tinged with green ; flowers pubescent, shorter than the 

 awns. 



Common in fields and pastures; flowers in June and July. 



This grass is very sweet-scented in drying. It is nowhere con- 

 sidered a valuable grass, for the yield is very light. It is much 

 used to mix with other species on lawns. Specimens of this grass 

 from New Hampshire were analyzed in Washington, and gave ash 

 8.43, fat 3.41, nitrogen-free extract 53.81, crude fiber 25.79, albumi- 

 noids 8.56. 



