ORGANS OF EEPRODTJCTION. 



185 



florescence of a Grass which is termed a locusta or 'spikelet, has 

 at its base one, or two bracts, to which the name of glumes has 

 been given {fig. 379, gl, gl). In the Cyperacese each flower is 



Fig. 378. 



Fig. 379. 



Fig. 378. Receptacle of Chamo- 

 mile (4wt7ienn's?io6(7js)bearing 

 flowers, a, a, and bracts, b, b ; 

 the latter are sometimes 

 termed palea. The receptacle 

 is here drawn much too large 

 at the apex, it should be coni- 

 cal. Fig. 379. Locusta or 



spikelet of the Oat iAvena 

 sativa). gl, gl. Glumes. ps,pi. 

 Palece. a. Awn arising from 

 the dorsum of the outer palea, 

 ps. fs. An abortive flower. 



surrounded by similar bracts. In the G-rasses we also find that 

 each flower has two other bracts {fig. 379, ps,^i), which are 

 commonly called palecs ; and also frequently at the base of the 

 ovary there are two or more little scales, also of the nature of 

 bracts, which are commonly termed sqicamulce, glumellules, or 

 lodiculcB {fig. 579, sjp). 



2. The Peduncle or Flower-Stalk. 



The term peduncle is applied to the stalk of a solitary flower, 

 whether axillary or terminal {figs. 368 and 376), or to a floral 

 axis which bears a number of sessile flowers {figs. 371 and 373) ; 

 or if the floral axis branches and each branch bears a flower {fig. 

 396), the main axis is still called a peduncle, and the stalk 

 of each flower a pedicel; or if the axis be still further sub- 

 divided, the general name of pedvmcle {fig. 398) is applied to 

 the whole, with the exception of the stalks immediately sup- 

 porting the flowers, which are in all cases called pedicels. When 

 the floral axis is thus branched, it is better to speak of the main 

 axis as the primary axis {fig. 409, «'), its divisions as the 

 secondary axes a!' , and their divisions as the tertiary axes a'", &c. 



Under certain circumstances peduncles have received special 

 names. Thus, when a peduncle is elongated, and gives off from 

 its sides sessile flowers {fig. 388), or branches bearing flowers 

 {fig. 396), it is called the rachis or axis. When the peduncle, 



