602 



THE SMALL GRAINS 



rather flat, small, nearly ^ the length of the lemma or 

 still shorter, often with a sharp tooth on each side below 

 the apex. Below the glumes are sometimes 2 rudiments 

 of glumes. The axis of the spikelet is 

 short and thick (Fig. 175). 



677. Flowers. The lemma and palea 

 are equally long, hard, parchment-like, 

 strongly compressed laterally, deeply 

 boat-shaped, obtusely keeled, obtusely 

 pointed or lemma often awned, rough, 

 pubescent, surface crossbarred with nu- 



pjQ 175 spike- merous fine longitudinal ridges crossed 



let (a) and cary- with rows of small elevations ; lemma 



opsfc (W ice. with 5 gtrong nerves> the margms bent 



inwards, catching hinge-like in the long 

 furrows at the margins of the palea or closely appressed to 

 the latter ; palea narrower than the lemma, 3-nerved, with 

 long furrows at the margin in which often hinges the 

 bent margin of the lemma; lodicules small, grown to- 

 gether below, and to the other side of the palea at the 

 lower margin, thick, fleshy, broad ovate, glabrous, with 

 soft pointed apex; stamens. 6; anthers long, crimped, 

 2-celled, opening the entire length, yellow, attached to 

 the filaments at base of the middle band ; pollen grains 

 spherical, light yellow; styles 2, grown together at the 

 base. 



678. Kernels. The caryopsis is firmly and completely 

 inclosed by the lemma and palea, all together being known 

 as the kernel ; caryopsis oblong, elliptical or oval, glabrous, 

 strongly compressed laterally, elliptical in cross-section, 

 having on each flat side 2 obtuse-angled longitudinal 

 ridges corresponding to the side nerves of the lemma 

 (Fig. 175); hilum linear; endosperm flinty, sometimes 



