Smithsonian Report. 1937. — Kempton 



Plate 15 



1 t 



& 



u 



Inflorescences of the Wild Relative of Maize, Gama Grass (Tripsacum 



dactyloides). 



The seeds are borne at the base of the inflorescences, the upper sections of the branches bearing only male 

 flowered spikelets. At the lower left is shown a segment of the rachis in which is enclosed the seed. 

 Next above the female spikelet is shown removed from the enveloping rachis, and above that is the ovary 

 freed from the glumes. At the top is shown the rachis cavity or alveolus in which the spikelet is em- 

 bedded. (Natural size.) 



