FLOWERS, THEIR STRUCTURE AND KINDS 161 



ear is surrounded and covered by a large number of leafy bracts, 

 called " husks." They are in reality leaves; the. outer ones are 



Fig. 118. 

 Pistillate inflorescence of Indian corn, showing long styles, the " silk." 



green, and often the tip terminates in a true blade, so that the 

 husk part may correspond to the leaf sheath. At the time of 



