Description
Anthoxanthum gracile (also called Slender Sweet Vernal Grass, among many other common names) is a perennial grass native to Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. It grows in meadows, grasslands, and disturbed areas. It has narrow, flat leaves and a thin, wiry stem. It produces small, yellow-green flowers in the summer.
Uses & Benefits
Anthoxanthum gracile is used as an ornamental plant in gardens and as a source of food for livestock. It is also used in traditional medicine to treat fever, headaches, and other ailments.
Flower, Seeds and Seedlings
The flower of Anthoxanthum gracile is a small, yellowish-white flower head, with a single floret at the tip of each branch. The seed is a small, dark brown, oval-shaped seed. The seedlings are small, slender, and have a single, long, narrow leaf.
Cultivation and Propagation
Anthoxanthum gracile can be propagated by seed or division. Seeds should be sown in a cold frame in the spring or autumn. When large enough to handle, seedlings should be potted up into individual pots and grown on in a cold frame for their first winter. Division in spring or autumn. Larger clumps can be divided with a spade.