Hierochloe odorata (from the
GreekGreek , an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages, is the language of the Greeks. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. In its ancient form, it is the language of classical...
, literally "holy fragrant grass"), also known as
sweet grass,
buffalo grass,
bison grass,
holy grass (
UKThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
),
manna grass,
Mary’s grass,
seneca grass,
sweetgrass, or
vanilla grass, is an aromatic
herbA herb is a plant that is valued for flavor, scent, or other qualities. Herbs are used in cooking, as medicines, and for spiritual purposes....
which grows in northern
EurasiaEurasia is a large landmass covering about 52,990,000 km
2 or about 10.6% of the Earth's surface...
and in
North AmericaNorth America is the northern continent of the Americas, situated in the Earth's northern hemisphere and in the western hemisphere. It is bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southeast by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west by the North Pacific...
. It is used in herbal medicine and in the production of
distilled beverageA distilled beverage, liquor, or spirits is a drinkable liquid containing ethanol that is produced by means of distilling fermented grain, fruit, or vegetables.This excludes undistilled fermented beverages such as beer and wine, and often the term hard liquor is used to contrast distilled beverages...
s (e.g.,
ŻubrówkaŻubrówka , also known in English as Buffalo Grass Vodka or Bison Grass Vodka, is a brand of dry, herb-flavoured vodka that is distilled from rye and bottled at 40% ABV . Its flavour is unique and is described as having woodruff, vanilla, coconut, and almond notes.The rye distillate is flavoured ...
). It owes its distinctive sweet scent to the presence of
coumarinCoumarin is a chemical compound found in many plants, notably in high concentration in the tonka bean , vanilla grass , woodruff , mullein , and sweet grass...
.
Habitat: Very hardy
perennialA perennial plant or perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. When used by gardeners or horticulturalists, this term applies specifically to perennial herbaceous plants...
. Native to North America as well as Europe. Grows to about in height, leaves grow long by late summer. Bases of leaves, just below soil surface are broad and white, without hairs, underside of leaves are shiny, without hairs
PropagationPlant propagation is the process of artificially or naturally distributing plants.-Sexual propagation :Seeds and spores can be used for reproduction . Seeds are typically produced from sexual reproduction within a species, since because genetic recombination has occurred plants grown from seed may...
: Easiest by cutting out plugs from established plants. Grown in sun or partial shade, they do not like drought.
Distribution
- Northern America: southern Canada, northern Great Plains/Rocky Mountains and Northwest of U.S., and New England
- Europe: from Switzerland north. Only one site in Ireland, and four counties in Scotland; making it very rare in the British Isles.
Uses
The plant is harvested by cutting grass in early to late summer at the desired length.
Hierochloe odorata harvested after the first frost has little or no scent and is less desirable for basketry. Basketweavers sun-dry cut sweet grass until it is dry and
brittleA material is brittle if it is liable to fracture when subjected to stress. That is, it has little tendency to deform before fracture...
. The brittle form of sweet grass must be soaked in warm water until it becomes
pliable. The pliable grass is typically
braidedBraided is a musical group consisting of Casey LeBlanc, Ashley Leitao, and Amber Fleury, who all competed on the third season of Canadian Idol in 2005. They are the third music group to come from an Idol show in the world, second being Young Divas from Australia and first being Feminnem from Croatia...
into thick threads and then redried for use.
European traditions
Holy grass was strewn before church doors on saints' days in northern Europe, presumably because of the sweet smell that arose when it was trodden on. It was used in France to flavor candy, tobacco, soft drinks, and perfumes. In Europe, the species
Hierochloe alpina is frequently substituted or used interchangeably. In Russia, it was used to flavor tea. It is still used in flavored vodka, the most notable example being Polish
ŻubrówkaŻubrówka , also known in English as Buffalo Grass Vodka or Bison Grass Vodka, is a brand of dry, herb-flavoured vodka that is distilled from rye and bottled at 40% ABV . Its flavour is unique and is described as having woodruff, vanilla, coconut, and almond notes.The rye distillate is flavoured ...
.
Native American Traditions
Sweet grass was, and is, very widely used by North American indigenous peoples. As a sacred plant, it is used in peace and healing rituals. Leaves are dried and made into braids and burned as vanilla-scented incense; long leaves of sterile shoots are used by Native Americans in making baskets.
- Natives of the Great Plains believe it was the first plant to cover Mother Earth
Mother Earth may refer to:*Mother Nature, a common metaphorical expression for the Earth and its biosphere as the giver and sustainer of life*Matka Ziemia, a Slavic deity*Gaia , the mythological goddess personifying the earth...
.
- The Anishinaabe
Anishinaabe or Anishinabe—or more properly Anishinaabeg or Anishinabek, which is the plural form of the word—is a self-description often used by the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Algonkin peoples, who all speak closely related Anishinabe/Anishinabe languages.The meaning of Anishnaabeg is "First-" or...
, CreeCree is one of the largest group of First Nations/Aboriginals in North America, located mainly across Canada and historically in the United States from Minnesota westward but are found today in Montana....
, Mi'kmaqThe Míkmaq are a First Nations people, indigenous to northeastern New England, Canada's Atlantic Provinces, and the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec. The nation has a population of about 40,000 of whom nearly 11,000 speak the Algonquian language Lnuísimk, more commonly known as "Micmac"...
, and other Algonquian first nations of Canada believe it is a purifier, and burn sweetgrass before all ceremonies. It is a reminder to respect the earth and all things it provides.
- It is also used in ceremonial items by the Blackfoot and Lakota peoples. Incense
Incense is composed of aromatic biotic materials, which release fragrant smoke when burned. The term incense refers to the substance itself, rather than to the odor that it produces....
used by at least the BlackfootThe Blackfoot Confederacy or Niitsítapi is the collective name of three First Nations in Alberta and one Native American tribe in Montana....
, CheyenneCheyenne are a Native American people of the Great Plains. The Cheyenne Nation is composed of two united tribes, the Só'taa'e and the Tsé-tsêhéstâhese , which translates to "those like us". The name Cheyenne derives from Dakota Sioux Šahíyena, meaning "little Šahíya"...
, DakotaSioux are a Native American and First Nations people. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many dialects...
, KiowaThe Kiowa are a nation of American Indians who migrated from what now is Canada to their present location in Southwestern Oklahoma. Today the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma is federally recognized, with approximately 14,000 members...
, Lakota, MenomineeSome placenames use other spellings, see also Menomonee and Menomonie.The Menominee are a nation of Native Americans living in Wisconsin. The Menominee, along with the Ho-Chunk, are the only tribes that are indigenous to what is now Wisconsin...
, Montana, OjibwaThe Ojibwe or Chippewa is the largest group of Native Americans-First Nations north of Mexico, including Métis. They are the third-largest in the United States, surpassed only by Cherokee and Navajo. They're equally divided between the United States and Canada...
, OmahaThe Omaha tribe is a Native American tribe that currently resides on the Omaha Reservation in northeastern Nebraska and western Iowa, United States...
, PawneeThe Pawnee are a Native American tribe that historically lived along the Platte, Loup and Republican Rivers in present-day Nebraska and in Northern Kansas...
, PoncaThe Ponca are a Native American tribe. There are two federally recognized Ponca tribes: the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska and the Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.-Early history:...
, SiouxSioux are a Native American and First Nations people. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many dialects...
, and WinnebagoThe Ho-Chunk, or Winnebago , are a tribe of Native Americans, native to what are now Wisconsin and Illinois.-Etymology:...
peoples. Used for purification, as oblations to ancestors, for protection of spirits, and keeping out of evil and harm. Used in a variety of ceremonies including peace ceremonies and initiations.
- Used by Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Lakota, Montana, Okanagan-Colville, Omaha, and Thompson for cosmetic and aromatic purposes. Blackfoot
The Blackfoot Confederacy or Niitsítapi is the collective name of three First Nations in Alberta and one Native American tribe in Montana....
and Gros Ventre use leaves soaked in water and used it as a hairwash. Sweet grass tea and smoke were used for coughs and sore throats (FlatheadFlathead may refer to:* A flat-head screwdriver or screw.* Flathead engine, a valve configuration* Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation, a Native American group* Platycephalidae, a family of fish...
, BlackfootThe Blackfoot Confederacy or Niitsítapi is the collective name of three First Nations in Alberta and one Native American tribe in Montana....
). Teas used as a wash to treat chapping and windburnWindburn is a common term for sunburn that has been accelerated by the effects of wind removing the UV-filtering thin layer of perspiration from the skin...
, and as an eyewash. Used as body & hair decoration/perfume by Blackfoot, Flathead, and Thompson.
- The Blackfoot
The Blackfoot Confederacy or Niitsítapi is the collective name of three First Nations in Alberta and one Native American tribe in Montana....
chewed grass as a means of extended endurance in ceremonies involving prolonged fasting.
- Iroquois, Kiowa, Malecite, Menominee, and Mi'kmaq
The Míkmaq are a First Nations people, indigenous to northeastern New England, Canada's Atlantic Provinces, and the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec. The nation has a population of about 40,000 of whom nearly 11,000 speak the Algonquian language Lnuísimk, more commonly known as "Micmac"...
people (amongst others) use sweetgrass in basketry (including mats) and crafts.
- Kiowa use fragrant leaves as stuffing for pillows and mattresses.
- Used for sewing at least by Menominee.
- Used as an incense to "keep the bugs away" by Flathead.
- Used by Cheyenne
Cheyenne are a Native American people of the Great Plains. The Cheyenne Nation is composed of two united tribes, the Só'taa'e and the Tsé-tsêhéstâhese , which translates to "those like us". The name Cheyenne derives from Dakota Sioux Šahíyena, meaning "little Šahíya"...
to paint pipes in the Sun Dance and the Sacred Arrow ceremonies.
Sweetgrass has a mellow, almost soporific effect, and for many is a useful aid to entering a meditative state.
CoumarinCoumarin is a chemical compound found in many plants, notably in high concentration in the tonka bean , vanilla grass , woodruff , mullein , and sweet grass...
, although not known to possess psychotropic effects, is common to a number of herbs used ritually which have strong anecdotal evidence for at least mild psychotropic properties.