A smallish tufted grass, usually under 30cm high, which grows best in moist soils. Leaf blades are flat, bright green, to 8mm wide. The leaves are strongly scented of coumarin, a sweet smell unlike the usual "green" smell of most grass. Walking through a stand of sweet vernal grass may stir up enough of the smell to be detectable, or sniff the crushed leaves. The seed heads are dense, although becoming more open during flowering, green to begin with but ripening to pale brown.

Anticoagulant, antispasmodic, carminative, emollient and stimulant (whole plant and flowering stems)

Plants For A Future

The whole plant, and especially the flowering stems is normally only applied externally, where it is used in the treatment of rheumatic pain, chilblains, nervous insomnia etc. It is said that a tincture made from this grass with spirit of wine is an effective and immediate cure for hay fever. It is also taken internally for nausea, gas and dysuria.

James A Duke and Maryl Fulton. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs - 2nd Edition, P: 715, CRC Press July 2002.