190 



THE WHEAT PLANT 



shorter, a very short one or none at all being found on the glumes enclosing 

 abortive flowers. 



The palea is equal to, or slightly longer than, the flowering glume, 

 ovate-lanceolate, with a narrow bifid apex, and an inward fold between 

 its two keels, the latter ciliate, especially near their tips. The two margins 



123 456 



8 9 10 ii 12 



FIG. 125. Empty glumes of Emmer (T. dicoccum} ( x 2). 



of the palea, which curve inward round the grain, are transparent, with a 

 single nerve running through each. 



The caryopses of the " spelt " forms are firmly enclosed by the glumes, 

 and do not thrash out as naked grains ; in other forms the grain is readily 

 separated from the chaff on thrashing. 



