Anthoxanthum odoratum L.

Tufted perennials, 12–50–(90) cm, strongly coumarin-scented. Leaf-sheath firmly membranous, glabrous or sparsely hairy, especially towards ligule, ± bearded on margins near collar, sometimes with one minute lateral auricle. Ligule 0.6–5 mm, truncate to somewhat tapered, minutely ciliate. Leaf-blade (1)–3.5–18–(25) cm × 2–6.5–(10) mm, glabrous or hairy, ribs smooth or minutely scaberulous, tip acute to acuminate. Culm erect or spreading, simple, internodes glabrous. Panicle 1.5–10–(16) × (0.5)–1–2–(4) cm, cylindric to ± ovate, dense, branches very rarely obvious; rachis glabrous, branches and pedicels short-hairy or very rarely glabrous. Spikelets 7–9.5 mm, green or brownish green, sometimes proliferous. Glumes ± hairy, very rarely glabrous or minutely scabrid, acute to shortly mucronate; lower c. ½ length of upper, 1-nerved, ovate, upper > florets and enclosing them, 3-nerved, ovate-lanceolate. Ø florets: lemma 3–3.5 mm, oblong, firmly membranous, brown and hairy below, hyaline above, apex bifid, with short obtuse lobes; awn of lower floret 2.4–3.8 mm, straight, inserted above midpoint, awn of second floret 6.3–8.5 mm, curved near base, inserted near base of lemma and often slightly projecting beyond upper glumes; palea 0 in both florets. ☿ floret: lemma 1.4–2.2 mm, orbicular, smooth; palea = lemma, narrow-lanceolate; anthers (2.5)–3.5–4.7 mm; caryopsis 1.4–1.9 × 0.5–1 mm. Plate 4E.

[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]