WHEA T. 



[chap. 



about the middle, and take one of the lowest spikelets from 

 the upper half. Observe that it is attached to the stem 

 (axis of the spike, called the rachis) by its side. In some 

 grasses, as Rye-grass, the spikelets are attached by their 

 edge to the rachis. Each spikelet consists of a pair of 

 nearly opposite, hard, dry, scaly leaves, called the outer 

 glumes^ which enclose three to 

 five closely imbricated flowers, 

 arranged alternately on opposite 

 sides of the axis of the spikelet. 

 Each flower is enclosed between 

 2i flowering-glume and 2, pale. The 

 flowering-glume and pale are oppo- 

 site to each other, and inserted 

 very nearly at the same point : the 

 flowering-glume, however, is the 

 lower, and usually embraces the 

 pale with its incurved edges. It 

 is similar in form and texture to 

 the outer glumes, and often ter- 

 minates in a bristle {awn). The 

 pale is generally easily distin- 

 guished by its having two lateral 

 nerves and no midrib, indicating, 

 apparently, that it may be com- 

 posed of two organs cohering 

 together. Between the flov/ering' 

 glume and the pale are the three 

 free stamens and the superior 

 ovary crowned with two plume-like stigmas. Note also two 

 very minute scales, called lodicules, representing a perianth, 

 inserted under the ovary. Between the outer glumes and 

 the lowest flowering-glume of the spikelet in some grasses. 



Fig. 40. The two outer glumes 

 of a spikelet and the parts of 

 a single floret of Wheat. The 

 two lowest scales, right and 

 left, are the outer glumes ; of 

 the next pair, the scale to the 

 right is the flowering-glume, 

 that to the left the pale. Then 

 come the two minute lodicules, 

 the three stamens, and the 

 tjistil. 



