GLUMACE.E 397 



above. The flower is primitive. Opposite the inferior 

 palea is a superior palea, or bracteole. There are 

 two lodicules or second bracteoles (there being no 

 perianth) above the superior palea. The flowers are 

 unisexual or complete. The flowering glumes enclose 

 the palea and flower, and are boat-shaped. There 

 are usually three stamens (or one, two, six or more). 

 The anther-stalks are slender and long, and the 

 anthers are versatile, two-celled, pendulous. The 

 ovary is one-celled, with a single carpel. The style 

 may be long or short or wanting. There are two 

 (or one) long, feathery stigmas. The ovule is erect, 

 basal, anatropous. The lodicules are hygroscopic, 

 and force open the paleae. The fruit is a caryopsis 

 or achene, with pericarp and seed-coat united. 

 Opposite the remains of the style is the embryo. 

 The hilum is on the upper side. The endosperm is 

 floury and abundant. The embryo is straight, out- 

 side the endosperm. There is a single cotyledon, or 

 scutellum or sheath, which encloses the plumule, the 

 radical being conical below, swollen above into the 

 scutellum, which surrounds both radicle and plumule. 

 The cotyledon remains within the seed, when 

 germinating, obtaining nutriment from the endo- 

 sperm. 



The flowers are wind-pollinated, and usually the 

 stigma ripens first. The stamens are of rapid growth, 

 and the anthers project out of the paleae, allowing 

 the pollen to be swept away and caught upon the 

 feathery stigmas. 



