Anthoxanthum - Vernal/Vanilla Grass

Family: Poaceae (Grass) ^[E-flora]

"Annual, perennial herb, cespitose, sometimes rhizomatous. Stem: ascending to erect, 1–10 dm. Leaf: cauline or mostly basal, fragrant; auricles present or not; ligule membranous; blade flat or rolled, glabrous or hairy. Inflorescence: panicle- or spike-like. Spikelet: subsessile, laterally compressed; glumes > florets, = or not, tip acute, 1- or 3-veined; florets 3, lower 2 sterile or staminate, upper bisexual, breaking apart above glumes, florets falling as 1 unit; lemma of lower florets > upper floret, tip 2-forked or -lobed, hairy, 3-veined, awned at or below middle or awn 0; fertile lemma 3–7-veined, glabrous or hairy, awn 0; palea 0 in lower florets, present and < lemma in fertile floret, 1-veined.
about 50 species: temperate Eurasia, America, Africa, Oceania, subantarctic. (Greek: flower + yellow, referring to golden color of mature inflorescence) [Allred & Barkworth 2003 FNANM 25:758–764] As treated here, the genus including Hierochloe, which is readily distinguishable in North America, but not in Asia and southern hemisphere. Fresh leaves of some species used for fragrance in churches on saints' days and as incense by Native Americans. Anthoxanthum hirtum (Schrank) Y. Schouten & Veldcamp reported from northern California; records lacking." ^[Jepson]

Local Species;

1. Anthoxanthum hirtum - hairy sweetgrass (range not confirmed) ^[E-flora]
2. Anthoxanthum odoratum - sweet vernalgrass ^[E-flora]

References

1. James P. Smith, Jr, 2012. Anthoxanthum odoratum, in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_IJM.pl?tid=13517, accessed on Oct 14 2013.

Anthoxanthum hirtum - hairy sweetgrass

Status: Native ^[E-flora]

References

• [E-flora] https://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Anthoxanthum%20hirtum&redblue=Both&lifeform=7, Accessed August 11, 2020

Anthoxanthum odoratum - sweet vernalgrass

"Anthoxanthum odoratum is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in) by 0.3 m (1ft).
It is not frost tender. It is in flower from April to June, and the seeds ripen from May to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil." ^[PFAF]

General: "Perennial, tufted grass from fibrous roots; stems hollow, 30-60 cm tall." ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}

Habitat / Range: "Mesic to dry lawns, fields, waste areas, rock outcrops and meadows in the lowland zone; common on S Vancouver Island, rare N to the Queen Charlotte Islands; introduced from Eurasia." ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}

Origin Status: Exotic ^[E-flora]

Hazards

• Coumarin: "The plant contains coumarin, 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]. " ^[PFAF] Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet vernal grass) contains anticoagulant coumarins, which cause bleeding in cattle that consume the grass. [SEHM] The freshly harvested plant contains glycosidic precursors of coumarin, which release coumarin in the process of dehydration (the drug contains up to 1.5% coumarin). No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction with the proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages." ^[PDR]
  
• Overdose: The administration of higher levels of the drug can lead to headache and dizziness. Liver injuries are possible among susceptible patients during long-term treatment. The abnormal liver values disappear when the drug is discontinued, but on going observation of liver enzyme values of the blood is recommended." ^[PDR] "Overdose may cause dizziness and headache. Liver problems, reversible after long-term overdosage (PH2)." ^{[HMH Duke]}

Edible Uses

• Seed
  • "Seed[105, 177]. The seed is very small and its use would be fiddly[K]." ^[PFAF]
    
• Leaves
  • "A tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves[144]. A sweet pleasant fragrance[183]. Some caution is advised, see notes at top of the page." ^[PFAF]
    

Other Uses

• Aromatic
  • "The aromatic leaves and dried flowers are used as a strewing herb, they are also woven into baskets[169, 257] and used in pot-pourri[238]." ^[PFAF]
    
• Coumarin
  • "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[13]." ^[PFAF]
    
• Fiber
  • The Forest Potawatomi use the Sweet Grass to make baskets and also to sew with upon buckskin, when fashioning moccasins arid articles of clothing, according to Pokagon. 389 [HuronSmith Zuni]
    

Medicinal Uses

• Plant: "Sweet Vernal Grass is the whole Anthoxantlium odoratum plant in flower." ^[PDR]
  • "The whole plant and especially the flowering stems, are anticoagulant, antispasmodic and stimulant[9, 13]. 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[4, 240]." ^[PFAF]
  • Hay Fever: "“Sweet” because it is aromatic when dried, and it is this that gives the characteristic smell of new-mown hay. Surprisingly, provided it has been dried first, it is given to cure hay fever! (Leyel. 1937)." [????]
  • Rheumatism: "Rheumatism is treated either with a poultice made from this grass, applied as hot as can be borne, or by taking a bath with the grass added (W A R Thomson. 1978)." [????]
  • "Unproven Uses: The drug is used for headache, nausea. sleeplessness and conditions of the urinary tract." ^[PDR]
  • "Mode of Administration: The drug is used externally as an extract." ^[PDR]
  • Indications: "Cancer (f; JLH); Dysuria (f; PH2); Gas (f; HHB); Headache (f; PH2); Insomnia (f; PH2); Nausea (f; PH2)." ^{[HMH Duke]}
  • Activities "Carminative (f; HHB); Emollient (f; EFS)." ^{[HMH Duke]}
    

Phytochemicals

• "Hydroxy cinnamic acid glycosides: in the fresh plant" ^[PDR]
  
• "Melilotoside and coumarin: triggered by a beta-glucosidase during dehydration of the plant" ^[PDR]
  
• "Iridoids: asperuloside, monotropein, scandoside" ^[PDR]
  

Sweet Vernal grass – Anthoxanthum odoratum

^{[Turner&Kuhnlein]}

Cultivation & Propagation
"Succeeds in most soils[200]. 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[4]. 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[245]." ^[PFAF]

"Seed - sow April in situ, only just covering the seed. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 3 weeks[134]. 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." ^[PFAF]

Synonyms
Anthoxanthum odoratum var. puelii (Lecoq & Lamotte) Coss. & Durieu
Anthoxanthum puelii Lecoq & LaMotte . ^[E-flora]

References

1. http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Anthoxanthum%20odoratum&redblue=Both&lifeform=6, Accessed April 9, 2015
2. http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Anthoxanthum+odoratum, Accessed Auguest 11, 2020