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Anthoxanthum odoratum L.

Sweet vernal grass

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassLiliopsidaMonocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family
SubclassCommelinidaeDayflowers and spiderworts, and several others
OrderCyperalesFlowering plants including grasses
FamilyPoaceaeGrasses (but not sedges or rushes)
GenusAnthoxanthumBorrowed from New Latin (Linnaeus), Latinization of earlier anthoxanthon, from Greek antho- + xanthón, neuter of xanthós “yellow”; so named from the yellowish color of the spike and seed in Anthoxanthum odoratum
SpeciesodoratumFragrant, sweet-smelling

About plant names...

Sweet vernal grass is named for a distinctive sweet smell, reminiscent of vanilla, when it is mature. It is a perennial native to Eurasia, but naturalized in North America. It favors disturbed soils, cliffs, balds, or ledges, forest edges, meadows and fields, and woodlands. It is considered a pasture weed because it is not palatable to cows. It is not poisonous, but it is borderline invasive.

Plants: Up to 1½′ (50 cm) tall.

Leaves: Most of the leaves are basal, up to 1′ (30 cm) × ⅜″ (1 cm), and flat. Leaf surfaces usually have short white hairs. Where the leaves attach to the stem is a ligule, or sheaf, 1/16-¼″ (2-7 mm) long.

Flowers: Flowering spikes are ¾-2½″ (1.9-7.0 cm) × ½-¾″ (1.3-1.9 cm), consisting of spikelets ⅛-¼″ (6-9 mm) long. They flower between April and July.

Fruits: Seeds ripen from May to July.

Online References:

Minnesota Wildflowers

Gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org

Weedid.cals.vt.edu

The Bugwood Wiki

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

5/24/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 17 cm)

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

5/11/2013 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (12 × 18 cm)

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

6/2/2016 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

7/16/2013 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (12 × 19 cm)

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

6/10/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 17 cm)

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

5/18/2021 · Cathance River Nature Preserve, Topsham, Maine · ≈ 2½ × 4″ (7 × 10 cm)

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

6/20/2016 · Wildlife Pond Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hamp­shire

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

6/16/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

5/24/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 3 × 4½″ (7.9 × 11 cm)

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

5/13/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

5/7/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 3½ × 5″ (9.2 × 13 cm)

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

5/6/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts

 

Anthoxanthum odoratum description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 5 Sep 2023.

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Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

5/11/2013 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (12 × 18 cm)

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

6/17/2012 · Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay, Maine · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

6/11/2014 · Conservation Area near Potanipo Pond, Brookline, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

5/9/2021 · Mitchell Field, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (12 × 18 cm)

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

5/7/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

5/28/2015 · Bates Land and Blackman Land, Groton Conservation Trust, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 16 cm)

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

7/16/2013 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 15 × 10″ (37 × 25 cm)

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

5/7/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 12 × 17″ (29 × 44 cm)

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

5/7/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 9″ (14 × 22 cm)

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

6/16/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm)

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

6/1/2013 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 16 cm)

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

5/13/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

6/16/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

5/6/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts

Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass)

5/7/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm)

Range:

About this map...