Skye Flora

Sweet Vernal Grass


Anthoxanthum odoratum

 

Anthoxanthum odoratum

Photo © Carl Farmer
3 May 2002 Portree

Very common in grassland, moorland, roadsides, rough ground, etc, tolerating a wide variety of soil types.

Stems c 25-40 cm tall.  Spike c 4-6 cm long.  Spikelets c 6-10 mm long.  Leaves c 3-5 mm wide.

Skye ID: Spikelets all crowded round the stem.  Spikelets narrow with hairs up one edge but not the other as in bottom right pic.

Other features: Has scent of new-mown hay.  Flowers early in the year.  Each spikelet has 2 sterile flowers and 1 fertile flower with 2 stamens.

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Anthoxanthum odoratum

Photo © Carl Farmer
28 Apr 2004 Portree
Visible length c 2.4 cm

First the white styles appear...

 

Anthoxanthum odoratum

Photo © Carl Farmer
14 May 2005 Kinloch
Inflorescence c 3.6 cm long

...then the purple stamens

 

Anthoxanthum odoratum

Photo © Carl Farmer
15 May 2003 Coulnacraggan

Dense tuft on cleared ground in forestry

  Anthoxanthum odoratum

Photo © Carl Farmer
22 Sep 2002 Portree

Occasionally flowers in autumn


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