284 SOUTH AFRICAN FLOWERING PLANTS. 



whence the blade arises, is a little flap called a ligule. 

 (3) is a complete spikelet composed of ten florets. 

 There are two empty glumes at the base (a) ; (&, 6, h) 

 are individual florets or flowers, each consisting of the 

 following elements : First, is the Flowering glume, 

 wrapping up all the inner parts. It has a certain 



Fig. \W.—Bro'mus. (For description, see text.) 



number of ribs. The middle one is prolonged into an 

 awn (3, V). Opposite to it, and overlapped by the 

 flowering glume, is a smaller glume, called the 'pale 

 (4, d). It usually has two distinct ribs and over- 

 lapping margins (not represented in the figure, 4, h). 

 These suggest the idea that the pale has been formed of 



