Anthoxanthum odoratum - Sweet Vernal Grass

This is a short-lived perennial grass common in a wide variety of habitats but typically dry grassland.

It is a tufted grass, 10-100 cm tall with broad and sparsely hairy green leaves. The ligules are quite long (1-5 mm) and membranous and the adjacent bases of the leaves are fringed with hairs on each side. Panicles are spike-like and narrowly oblong (canoe shaped). The lower lemmas have long projecting awns. This grass flowers early in the season. In seed the heads dry to a bright straw yellow and are quite persistent.

Further information and pictures here.