Alternative names: fragrant spikelet [2] [3] , odorous spikelet [3] [4] , yellow stalk [5] , oregano [3] [6] , odorous scented oak [3] [6] , bison [7] , yellowflower [3] [6] , yellowflower [6] , fragrant yellowflower [8] yellowtail [6] , incense grass [6] , fragrant grass [6] , tomka [6] , burn [6] , wonderworker [6] , snowstorm [6] [9] , allspice fragrant [10] , fragrant odorous spikelet [10] , fragrant odoriferous [10] , bobbin [11] .
Botanical illustration from the book of
K. A. M. Lindman Bilder ur Nordens Flora ,
1917-1926Perennial herbaceous plant forming turf . The stems are thin, erect, smooth, unbranched, with one to three nodes, reach a height of 10-50 cm [12] .
The tongue is 1-5 mm long [12] . At the place of transition of leaf sheaths into the leaf blade there is a beard of hairs [12] . The leaves are elongated, flat, pointed at the end, up to 5 mm wide and 15 cm long, either bare [12] or ciliate-pubescent along the edge [10] .
Inflorescences 3–6 cm long and up to 1 cm wide are compressed spike-shaped panicles with branches protruding out during flowering . The lower branches of inflorescences reach a length of 2-3 cm [10] [11] . Spikelets of yellowish-green or brown color up to 10 mm in length with one prolific flower and two underdeveloped, infertile, only from the outer films equipped with awn . If the lower spikelet scales are lanceolate-pointed in shape, glabrous or pubescent, then the upper spikelet scales are pubescent, about 3 mm long, the lower of them with a cranked shaft of 7-10 mm, and the upper with a straight spine of 3-4 mm . Floral scales with a length of about 2 mm, webbed, with a clearly visible spine. Ovary is single-ovate, with two columns, three stamens .
The fruit is a caryopsis [10] [11] [12] [13] .
Awakens in the spring very early, blooms from May to August [13] .
It is found in Europe - from the Arctic (to the island of Kolguev ) to the Mediterranean , in the Caucasus , in Siberia , Central Asia , North America ; as an alien - in the Far East [11] [13] .
It is common in the herbage of upland meadows on poor acidic podzolized soils of varying degrees of moisture. It can dominate in meadow communities alone or with a thin white fescue , or less often a red fescue , together with a whitebird and a woodland . In the mountains - in the mountain forest and subalpine zones [14] .
It is grassroots. The spikelet is odorless, but when dried, it acquires a pleasant smell due to the content of coumarin in it, which gives the hay a peculiar “hay” smell. However, some animals, for example, cows, do not like this smell [13] . The feed value is small [14] .
It is used as an additive to snuff and smoking tobacco to give it a smell [2] [13] , as aromatic raw materials in the distillery, for the manufacture of food essences , in soap making and perfumes [11] .
In folk medicine, a decoction is used for suffocation [14] .
