Anthoxanthum odoratum Information & Anthoxanthum odoratum Links at HealthHaven.com

Anthoxanthum odoratum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae;
(unranked):	Angiosperms;
(unranked):	Monocots;
(unranked):	Commelinids;
Order:	Poales;
Family:	Poaceae;
Genus:	Anthoxanthum;
Species:	A. odoratum;
Binomial name
	Anthoxanthum odoratum; L.

Anthoxanthum odoratum.

Anthoxanthum odoratum, known as sweet vernal grass, holy grass, vanilla grass or buffalo grass, is a perennial grass found wild in acidic grassland in Eurasia. It is also grown as a lawn grass and a house plant, due to its sweet scent.

It has become a weed in bushland areas of S.E Australia.^{[citation needed]}

The stems are 25–40 centimetres (9.8–16 in) tall, with short leaves 3–5 millimetres (0.12–0.20 in) wide. It flowers from April until June, with flower spikes of 4–6 centimetres (1.6–2.4 in) long and crowded spikelets of 6–10 millimetres (0.24–0.39 in).

The scent is particularly strong when dried, and is due to coumarin, a glycoside, and benzoic acid – it smells like fresh hay with a hint of vanilla.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Cultivation

It is grown by scattering seed on tilled ground in the spring through fall, germinating in 4 to 5 days. It prefers sandy loam and acidic conditions (a low pH).

As an agricultural grass it has a low yield, but can grow on land too acidic for other grasses.