Varieties. 
Agricultural 
value, 
Geographical 
distribution. 
62 
The false fruit (fig. 6) is composed of the caryopsis covered by the pales and inner glumes, i. e. 
the whole spikelet minus the outer glumes, This comes into commerce as Sweet-scented vernal grass 
seed. Its length including the awn is 6—7 mm., without the awn, 3—4 mm. Its surface, formed by 
the inner glumes is dark, hairy and awned. The caryopsis (figs. 9 and 10), seen when the inner 
glumes and the pales are removed, is smooth, glabrous, and slightly compressed at the sides. 
Varieties. Alefeld distinguishes two varieties: — 1. Common sweet-scented vernal grass (Antho- 
xanthum odoratum var. vulgare, Alef.), 2. Hairy sweet-scented vernal grass (Anthoranthum odoratum yar. 
pilosum, Déll.). In the first variety both outer elumes are glabrous; in the second variety both are 
hairy, the upper on its whole surface, the lower on the keel and basal margins. The plate shews the 
common variety; the hairy variety is rare: both are of equal value to the agriculturist. 
The generic name »Anthoxanthum« refers to the yellow colour of the spikelets. 
Among fodder-grasses, this is only of secondary importance. It gives to hay a pecu- 
liar odour, due to the presence in it of a substance called coumarin. The same substance 
occurs in many other plants e. g. Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), Blue melilot 
(Melilotus coerulea), Woodrulf (Asperula odorata), Tonca bean (Dipteris odorata), etc. 
Because of this odour, its cultivation was strongly recommended, but, as Hafener properly 
points out, an odour agreeable to us 1s not necessarily so to domestic animals: besides, 
an herb is liked, less for its aroma, than for its taste. The taste of sweet-scented vernal grass 
is bitter*), and, like the odour, this is due to coumarin ; that the taste is disagreeable is 
shewn by the fact, that, whether fresh or dry, it is only eaten by cattle and sheep in cases 
of extreme hunger. | 
Sinclair says, »Mr. Grant of Leighton, laid down a field of considerable extent; one 
half of which was sown with this grass and white clover, the other half, with meadow 
foxtail and red clover. The sheep would not touch the sweet-scented vernal and white clover, 
but kept constantly on the foxtail grass, though the dwarfish nature of the sweet-scented 
vernal had occasioned an unusual degree of Inxuriance of the white clover, with which it 
was combined. This would indicate that it is not, when single, or when combined with 
but two or three different species, very grateful to cattle.< When dry, other grasses give 
an agreeable odour, and it is thus an error to suppose that the odour of hay is entirely due 
to sweet-scented vernal. Almost every grass and every weed has, in a dry state, a specific 
odour, but from this, the value of the plant cannot at all be judged; certainly, when hay 
has a musty smell, the odour is a guide to its value, but no judgment can be formed from. 
the presence of the odour of sweet-scented vernal. The underground parts contain more cou- 
marin than the culms and leaves, and these are sometimes used for scenting snuff. Al- 
though sweet-scented vernal is a small plant yielding little produce, and as a fodder, neither 
valuable by itself, nor when forming a large percentage of a mixture ; still, in dry soils and 
dry climates it is very important, because on its low, compact grass dew is formed and 
retained. In this way, it makes dry ground somewhat humid and more favourable for the 
erowth of other and better grasses. It is said to have the property of suppressing MOSss. — 
Worms and insects injurious to other plants do it no harm. 
Occurrence, Climate, Soil, Manure. Sweet-scented vernal grass is indigenous — to Europe, 
extending from Italy and the mountainous parts of Greece to Iceland and the North Cape, and from Por- 
(ugal and Spain (where it is raré, and only occurs on the mountains) to the Urals: to Africa, in the 
Mediterranean region (except Egypt), and the Canary Islands; to Asia, in Caucasus and throughout 
Siberia. It has been introduced into North America. 
*) Sweet-scented vernal may readily be distinguished from other grasses by the bitter taste of its leaf. 
