484 WEATHERWAX: SPIKELETS OF ZEA Mays 
cism is the rule in almost all varieties, and the behavior of the 
floral organs, either functional or rudimentary, is fairly constant. 
This monoecious form is taken as the type for the purpose of 
description, and those varieties having a large proportion of perfect 
flowers, together with the numerous instances of reversion are 
mentioned only as aids in understanding the typical form. 
The development of either of the typical unisexual spikelets 
of maize can best be described by comparison with a theoretical 
primitive spikelet such as occurs in some varieties of pod corn, 
and the like of which is found in‘ several other grasses. This 
1 
Fics. 1-5. Development of the male spikelet, X60. G, glume; L, lemma; 
F, flower primordium; S, stamen; P, palea; Pi, pistil; Lo, lodicule (in a portion of the | 
section that is not median); W, ovary w 
spikelet has two empty glumes and two flowers with four palets. 
Since the bracts have an alternate arrangement on the rachilla, 
one flower is a little higher than the other in the spikelet. The 
higher one, which is on the side of the spikelet toward the rachis, 
is the older. Each flower has a pistil, three stamens, and two 
