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Anthoxanthum odoratum
  • Sweet Vernal Grass

a perennial member of the Anthoxanthum genus in the family Gramineae.

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Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • ?
    Unknown
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Anthoxanthum odoratum has 0 edible uses listed
Anthoxanthum odoratum has 0 material uses listed
Anthoxanthum odoratum has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

The plant contains coumarins, this is what gives it the scent of newly mown hay. When used internally, especially from dried plants, it can act to prevent the blood from co-aggulating[1].

Edible uses

Notes

Seed[2][3]. The seed is very small and its use would be fiddly[K]. A tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves[4]. A sweet pleasant fragrance[5]. Some caution is advised, see notes at top of the page.

Seed

Unknown use

Unknown part

Tea

Material uses

The aromatic leaves and dried flowers are used as a strewing herb, they are also woven into baskets[6][7] and used in pot-pourri[8]. The plant contains coumarin - this is used medicinally and also in rat poisons where it prevents the blood from co-aggulating and thus means that the slightest cut can kill the rat[1].

Unknown part

Basketry
Pot-pourri
Strewing

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The whole plant, and especially the flowering stems, is anticoagulant, antispasmodic and stimulant[9][1]. It is normally only applied externally, where it is used in the treatment of rheumatic pain, chilblains, nervous insomnia etc[9]. It is said that a tincture made from this grass with spirit of wine is an effective and immediate cure for hay fever[10][11].

Unknown part

Anticoagulant
Antispasmodic
Stimulant

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow April in situ, only just covering the seed. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 3 weeks[12]. Division in spring. Very easy, it can be done successfully at almost any time of the year, though it is best to pot up the divisions in a cold frame if you are doing it outside the growing season.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Anthoxanthum odoratum. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils[13]. Dislikes shade.

This is one of the earliest grasses to flower in the year, it produces a lot of pollen and is a major irritant to people who suffer from hay fever[10].

The dried plant releases a strong and persistent fragrance with a refreshing pungent smell that is difficult to describe but is somewhat like newly-mown hay[14].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Anthoxanthum odoratum. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Anthoxanthum odoratum.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Anthoxanthum odoratum
Genus
Anthoxanthum
Family
Gramineae
Imported References
Edible uses
[2][3][4][5]
Medicinal uses
[9][1][10][11]
Material uses & Functions
[6][7][8][1]
Botanic
[15]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
?
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.45 x 0.3 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Wind
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Illustration Anthoxanthum odoratum0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Illustration Anthoxanthum odoratum0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Illustration Anthoxanthum odoratum0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Illustration Anthoxanthum odoratum0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Illustration Anthoxanthum odoratum0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Illustration Anthoxanthum odoratum0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Illustration Anthoxanthum odoratum0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Illustration Anthoxanthum odoratum0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Illustration Anthoxanthum odoratum0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Illustration Anthoxanthum odoratum0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Illustration Anthoxanthum odoratum0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Illustration Anthoxanthum odoratum0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Illustration Anthoxanthum odoratum0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.4 Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-33545-3 (1975-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.1 Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana ISBN 0-00-634436-4 (1976-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden. ()
    7. ? 7.07.1 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.2 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (1981-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.110.2 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.1 Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. (1986-00-00)
    12. ? Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. (1988-00-00)
    13. ? Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    14. ? Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 (1994-00-00)
    15. ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)

    "image:Illustration Anthoxanthum odoratum0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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    Facts about "Anthoxanthum odoratum"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyGramineae +
    Belongs to genusAnthoxanthum +
    Has common nameSweet Vernal Grass +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partSeeds + and Unknown part +
    Has edible useUnknown use + and Tea +
    Has fertility typeWind +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has imageIllustration Anthoxanthum odoratum0.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useBasketry +, Pot-pourri + and Strewing +
    Has mature height0.45 +
    Has mature width0.3 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAnticoagulant +, Antispasmodic + and Stimulant +
    Has primary imageIllustration Anthoxanthum odoratum0.jpg +
    Has search nameanthoxanthum odoratum + and x +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameAnthoxanthum odoratum +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +