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sweet vernalgrass

Habit Tufted perennial, the culms 1-3 dm. tall, erect and hollow.
Leaves

Sheaths open, usually glabrous;

ligules 2-3 mm. long, membranous;

blades flat, 3-7 mm. broad, with a few hairs up to 2 mm. long near the base.

Flowers

Inflorescence a narrow, tawny, congested panicle 2-9 cm. long;

spikelets 3-flowered, the lower 2 empty lemmas; articulation above the glumes;

auricles well-developed;

glumes unequal, acute, the first 4-5 mm. long, 1-nerved, the second 8-10 mm. long, 3-nerved;

sterile lemmas subequal, narrow, about 3 mm. long, pubescent, the first awned from above mid-length in the back, the awn 3 mm. long, the second awned from well below midlength, the awn 7-10 mm. long, twisted and bent;

fertile lemma firm, brown, glabrous, 2 mm. long;

palea equal to the fertile lemma;

lodicules lacking.

Fruits

Single-seed grain (caryopsis).

Anthoxanthum odoratum

Identification notes Roots and crushed foliage often producing a fragrance similar to fresh hay with a hint of vanilla.
Flowering time April-July
Habitat Roadsides, fields, meadows, prairies, balds, lawns, and other disturbed open areas at low elevations.
Distribution
Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, southern Great Plains, and eastern North America.
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Origin Introduced from Europe
Conservation status Not of concern
Sibling taxa
A. aristatum
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