ZEA MAYS 



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lets. One of the spikelets of each pair is pedicillate, the other 

 sessile. The staminate spikelet may be regarded as the unit of the 

 inflorescence and is normally two-flowered, although one-flowered 

 spikelets have been observed in cases where the second flower is 

 abortive. 



At the base of the spikelet are two glumes which subtend and 

 enclose the flowers. Up to the time of anthesis, these are firm 



Fig. 54. Staminate inflorescence showing : A, a terminal panicle with its central spike and 

 lateral rachises; B, the paired spikelets; and C, habit of a partially opened spikelet. 



and thickly covered with stiff bristle-like hairs with the lower 

 glume overlapping the edges of the upper one. Each flower is sub- 

 tended by a lemma and a palea, the paleas of the two flowers of the 

 spikelet lying back to back. At the base of each lemma are two 

 lodicules which become very much enlarged at anthesis and hold 

 the glumes open as the filaments elongate. The three stamens are 

 arranged so that two are adjacent to the palea and one is in a dorsal 

 position next to the lemma. The rudimentary carpel is centrally 

 located. The two flowers of the spikelet are identical in structure, 

 but the upper one is the first to mature. Weatherwax (2.6) has 

 pointed out that the early development of staminate and carpellate 



