10 FODDER AND PASTURE PLANTS. 
Red Top, Fescues, Oats, etc., the inflorescence is called a panicle. 
When they are very short, as in the Foxtail Millets, the inflorescence 
has the appearance of a spike. Timothy (Plate 3) and Meadow 
Foxtail (Plate 4) inflorescences are extremely like regular spikes 
but even in these the type is that of the ordinary panicle. This is 
proven by the fact that branched inflorescences occasionally occur 
in Timothy. Even an ear of corn is a modification of a panicle, 
characterized by extremely short branches from a fleshy main stem. 
The panicles of many grasses are differently shaped at different 
stages of development. Thus, in Red Top and Sheep’s Fescue the 
branches spread during flowering and the inflorescence is therefore 
open and broad. When flowering is over, the branches close in to- 
ward the main stem, making the inflorescence contracted and narrow. 
Spikelets: The ultimate branches of the inflor- 
escence end with so-called spikelets, a kind of partial 
inflorescence (Fig. 3.). At the base of the spikelet are 
.--- o£. two sterile glumes (Fig. 3, Gl.), though Italian and 
Perennial Rye Grass have only one. Above them are 
ong a number of fertile glumes, called lemmas (Fig. 3, L.), 
’ which carry a flower in their axils. Each flower is 
Fig. 3. Spikeler enclosed by a delicate glume called palea (Fig. 4, Pa.) 
of Awnless Brome and consists chiefly of three stamens (Fig. 4, St.) and 
Grass. 
a ee a pistil with two feathery branched stigmas (Fig. 4, P.). 
‘ “glumes. The number of flowers varies in different grasses; 
L.—Lemma. . . . 
Awnless Brome has seven to nine in each spikelet, 
whereas Red Top has only one. In the latter the whole spikelet 
consists of the two sterile glumes (Fig. 3, Gl.), the lemma (Fig. 4 
L.) and the palea (Fig. 4, Pa.) enclosing the flower proper. 
Fertilization: Before blossoming the 
glumes tightly enclose the flowers, and 
nothing is seen of the stamens and pistil. 
At flowering time the glumes generally 
open wide and the stamens and pistil are 
visible (Fig. 4). Dustlike masses are soon 
produced from the stamens and carried 
away by the wind. This is the pollen 
which, when caught by the branches of 
the stigmas, induces the lower part of the 
Fig. 4. Flower with enclosing 
I f Tall Oat Grass. isti i i 
romans mealies» Piston ovary)(Eig: 410) cose 
nee P—Stigma. fruit. In wheat, oats and barley the pollen 
Pa—Palea. O.—Ovary. 2 . 
Si-—Stamen. is generally transported to the stigmas be- 
fore the glumes of the spikelet begin to separate; each flower is con- 
