Is it a native?

Sweet Vernal Grass - introduced (Anthoxanthum odoratum)

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vernal grass vernal grass vernal grass vernal grass

Native to Europe and Asia. Perennial. C3.

Family. Poaceae (Grass family).

Identification:

It is uncommon in dry forests. It may be abundant in grasslands, particularly in higher rainfall areas.

The flower cluster is dense and contracted. The spikelets have two sterile or male lemmas below the one fertile (seed-producing) lemma. The two sterile lemmas are hairy. The lower lemma has straight awn from the middle of the back and the upper sterile lemma has a bent awn from near the base. The fertile lemma is without hairs and is not awned.

Anthos: flower (Greek), xanthos: yellow, referring to the yellow colour of the cluster after flowering; odoratum: odoriferus, sweet smelling.

1. Flower cluster. 2. FLower cluster with anthers and stigmas. 3. Glumes (upper) and lemmas. 4. Dense patch of Sweet Vernal-grass, Mornington Peninsula. 5. Flower clusters. 6. Spikelet.