Anthoxanthum odoratum
Anthoxanthum odoratum
Safety & Hazards
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[ 13 Title Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Publication Author Triska. Dr. Publisher Hamlyn Year 1975 ISBN 0-600-33545-3 Description Very interesting reading, giving some details of plant uses and quite a lot of folk-lore. ]. 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[ 4 Title A Modern Herbal. Publication Author Grieve. Publisher Penguin Year 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 Description Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants. ].
Botanical Description
Anthoxanthum odoratum is a perennial, clump-forming grass with erect stems 10 - 75cm tall, exceptionally to 100cm. Sweet vernal grass is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, food and source of materials. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental in gardens. The plant has spread as a weed to many parts of the globe. It forms an extensive ground cover in open mesic and dry habitats at moderate to high elevations in the tropics, where it invades disturbed areas, preventing the reestablishment of native species. It is considered to be invasive in many countries, including New Zealand, Chile, Australia and Hawaii[ 305 Title Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk Publication Author Website http://www.hear.org/pier/scientificnames/index.html Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A very good website detailing weed species that have been introduced into the Pacific Islands. ].