12 



FIRST BOOK OF GRASSES 



as here shown for the sake of comparison. The 

 palea is immediately above the lemma and the 

 flower immediately above the palea.] It will be seen 

 that the spikelet is theoretically a leafy flowering 

 branch with a jointed main axis, the flowers, except 



riRST GLUME 



FIG. 6. Diagram of a flowering 

 branch. 



FIG. 7. Diagram of 

 spikelet. 



for the minute lodicules, reduced to the essential 

 organs. In Fig. 8 a typical grass spikelet is shown, 

 the lemmas and paleas nearly closed together and 

 concealing the flowers. 



The spikelet is characteristic of grasses and is not 

 found in any other family except that of the sedges. 



