8o 



BOTANY OF CROP PLANTS 



spikelet with its parts removed in order. Each spikelet is 

 subtended by these two empty bracts. Following the sug- 

 gestion of Piper, we shall designate these two basal, empty 

 bracts as "glumes." The lower of these is the "first glume," 

 the upper the "second glume." Above the two glunies, on 

 the rachilla, are one or more bracts; each one of these is 

 known as a lemma (flowering glume and inferior palea of 

 some authors). Normally, there is a flower in the axil of 

 each lemma. Opposite each lemma is a two-nerved, two- 

 keeled, bract-like structure, the palet (the palea, prophyllum, 



Iji glume 



Fig. 29. — Spikelet of common wheat (Triticum sestivum) dissected, the parts 

 removed in order. 



bracteole, and superior palea of some authors) . Its back is 

 turned toward the rachilla. It frequently envelops the 

 other parts of the flower with its infolded edges. The palet 

 is never awned (bearded). While the glumes and lemmas 

 are inserted on the rachilla, the palet is inserted on a very 

 short flower stalk (pedicel) . At the base of the ovary, on the 

 side opposite the palet, are two minute scales, the (anterior) 

 lodicules (Fig. 30). Inside the palet, and placed farther up 

 on the flower stalk, are three stamens and a single pistil. 

 Thus we see that in the typical spikelet there are two glumes 



