Anthoxanthum odoratum
Sweet Vernal Grass
a perennial member of the Anthoxanthum genus in the family Gramineae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Gramineae
- Genus
- Anthoxanthum
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.45 m
- Spread
- 0.3 m
- Fertility
- Wind
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Wind
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
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[2].
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed[1][7]. 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[8]. Some caution is advised, see notes at top of the page.
- Plant part
- Seed
- Product or use
- Tea
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The whole plant, and especially the flowering stems, is anticoagulant, antispasmodic and stimulant[15][2]. It is normally only applied externally, where it is used in the treatment of rheumatic pain, chilblains, nervous insomnia etc[15]. It is said that a tincture made from this grass with spirit of wine is an effective and immediate cure for hay fever[14][11].
- Product or use
- Anticoagulant
- Product or use
- Antispasmodic
- Product or use
- Stimulant
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The aromatic leaves and dried flowers are used as a strewing herb, they are also woven into baskets[5][13] and used in pot-pourri[10]. 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[2].
- Product or use
- Basketry
- Product or use
- Pot-pourri
- Product or use
- Strewing
Environment
- Range
- Most of Europe, including Britain, south and east to N. Africa and W. Asia.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow April in situ, only just covering the seed. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 3 weeks[3]. 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.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in most soils[9]. 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[14]. 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[12].
References
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3
Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00
Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-00-634436-4
Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
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
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2