Anthoxanthum (Latinised Greek for "yellow blossom"[3]), commonly known as hornworts,[4] vernal grasses,[4] or vernalgrasses,[4] is a genus of plants in the grass family.[5][6][7][8] The generic name means 'Yellow flower' in Botanical Latin, referring to the colour of the mature spikelets.[9]

Anthoxanthum
Anthoxanthum odoratum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Pooideae
Supertribe: Poodae
Tribe: Poeae
Subtribe: Anthoxanthinae
A.Gray
Genus: Anthoxanthum
L.
Type species
Anthoxanthum odoratum
Synonyms[2]
  • Ataxia R.Br.
  • Flavia Heist. ex Fabr.
  • Xanthonanthos St.-Lag.

The members of Anthoxanthum are widespread in temperate and subtropical parts of Africa and Eurasia, with a few species in tropical mountains. Some species have become naturalized in Australia, New Zealand, and the Americas. Anthoxanthum odoratum is a common species of acidic grassland and bogs in northern Europe. All the species reportedly contain the compound coumarin, used medicinally in many countries.[10][11]

The genus Hierochloe is included in Anthoxanthum by some recent authors. Others, however, continue to treat them as separate genera, and we provisionally treat them as such here pending further research.[2][12]

Species[2][13]
formerly included[2]

numerous species now considered better suited to other genera. Most important is Hierochloe; others include Centotheca Crypsis Dichelachne Dimeria Festuca Perotis Saccharum

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ lectotype designated by Cope in Jarvis et al., Regnum Veg. 127: 19 (1993)
  2. ^ a b c d Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  3. ^ Coombes, Allen J. (2012). The A to Z of plant names : a quick reference guide to 4000 garden plants (1st ed.). Portland, Or.: Timber Press. p. 46. ISBN 978-1-60469-196-2. OCLC 741564356.
  4. ^ a b c English Names for Korean Native Plants (PDF). Pocheon: Korea National Arboretum. 2015. p. 354. ISBN 978-89-97450-98-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2016 – via Korea Forest Service.
  5. ^ Linnaeus, Carl von. 1753. Species Plantarum 1: 28 in Latin
  6. ^ Watson L, Dallwitz MJ. (2008). "The grass genera of the world: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval; including synonyms, morphology, anatomy, physiology, phytochemistry, cytology, classification, pathogens, world and local distribution, and references". The Grass Genera of the World. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
  7. ^ Tropicos, Anthoxanthum L.
  8. ^ Jepson Manual Treatment
  9. ^ Gledhill D. 1985. The Names of Plants. Cambridge University Press.ISBN 978-0-5213-6675-5
  10. ^ Flora of China Vol. 22 Page 336 黄花茅属 huang hua mao shu Anthoxanthum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 28. 1753
  11. ^ Altervista Flora Italiana, genere Anthoxanthum
  12. ^ Hope, Tom, & Gray, Alan, Grasses of the British Isles: BSBI Handbook No. 13, Botanical Society of the British Isles, 2009, p 312. ISBN 978-0-901158-42-0.
  13. ^ The Plant List search for Anthoxanthum