lO 



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. 



■ X 



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 

 two sterile glumes (Fig. 3, Gl.), though Italian and 

 Perennial Rye Grass have only one. Above them are 

 a number of fertile glumes, called lemmas (Fig. 3, L.), 

 which carry a flower in their axils. Each flower is 

 Fig. 3. Spikelet enclosed by a delicate glume called palea (Fig. 4, Pa.) 

 of AwnUssBrome ^nd consists chiefly of three stamens (Fig. 4, St.) and 

 Natural size. a pistil with two feathery branched stigmas (Fig. 4, P.). 

 ^''^^glurnes '^^^ number of flowers varies in different grasses; 

 2,.— 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 

 pistil or ovary (Fig. 4, O.) to develop into 

 fruit. In wheat, oats and barley the pollen 

 is generally transported to the stigmas be- 

 fore the glumes of the spikelet begin to separate; each flower is con- 



Fig. i. Flower with enclosing 



glumes of Tall Oat Grass. 

 Four times natural size. 

 L. — Lemma. P. — Stigma. 

 Po.— Palea. O.— Ovary. 



SI. — Stamen. 



