392 



THE GRAMINALES 



The flowers are exceptionally alike in structure and show 

 about the same state of floral development. While resembling 

 those of the Typha in some particulars, they present several fea- 

 tures that indicate a decided advance over the previous group. 

 Fig. 283 illustrates the common types of inflorescence found 



Fig. 283. Inflorescence of a grass: i, tip of stem with flowers arranged 

 in spike-like inflorescences. 2, a single spike enlarged at time of flowering 

 4, diagram showing structure of spike. At base two sterile bracts, above 

 three flowers, each enclosed by an outer firm bract and an inner more delicate 

 bract. /, lodicules. At apex of spike a sterile flower. 5, another species 

 of grass, showing the scattering of the microspores. 



among the grasses. The flowers are arranged on elongated 

 branches, but instead of a large bract ensheathing the inflor- 

 escence (see Typha), each flower is inclosed by one or more small 

 bracts so arranged as to form a spike-like structure of over- 

 lapping bracts (Fig. 283, 2). The two kinds of sporophylls 

 may be arranged in separate spikes or on different parts of the 

 same spike, or, as in many grasses, the stamens and pistils are 



