Flora of New Zealand Series

Type species: A. odoratum L.

Perennials or annuals, ± fragrant with coumarin. Leaf-sheath rounded. Ligule membranous. Leaf-blade flat, usually ± flaccid. Culm slender. Panicle narrow, spike-like. Spikelets with 3 florets, the lower 2 Ø or rarely ♂, the third much shorter, ⚥, protogynous; disarticulation above glumes; rachilla not prolonged. Glumes unequal with the lower shorter, membranous, 1-3-nerved, keeled. Lemmas of Ø florets equal, keeled, hairy, dorsally awned; lemma of ⚥ floret hyaline, 1-7-Anthoxanthum L. nerved. Palea 1-nerved. Lodicules 0. Stamens 2 in ⚥ florets, sometimes 3 in ♂ florets. Ovary glabrous; styles free. Caryopsis terete; embryo ¼ length of caryopsis; hilum punctiform or shortly elliptic; endosperm solid.

c. 20 spp., of temperate and tropical regions. Naturalised spp. 2.

Schouten, Y. and Veldkamp, J. F. Blumea 30: 319-351 (1985) considered that it was impossible to uphold Anthoxanthum and Hierochloe as separate genera and transferred spp. of Hierochloe to Anthoxanthum, the older name. However, Clayton and Renvoize (1986 op. cit. p. 133) found Anthoxanthum sufficiently distinct from Hierochloe to justify generic status.