ANDROPOGON SORGHUM 



193 



encloses the parts of the fertile flower. The lemma of the 

 fertile flower is broad, hairy, and two-cleft at the tip; there 

 arises in the cleft, as a rule, a long awn which projects from 

 the spikelet. The awn may be very short or only represented 

 by a bristle. The palet is frequently absent; when pres- 



lemma of sterile jlower- 



aniher 



Fig. 71. 



—ovar\j 

 lemma of fertile jlower- 



-Spikelet of sorghum (Andropogon sorghum) dissected. 

 X 10, all others X 5. 



Lodicule 



ent, it is small and thin. There are two lodicules, which are 

 much broader than long, truncate, fleshy, and usually 

 thickly hairy. Three stamens are present. The sessile, 

 ovate ovary does not bear a tuft of hairs at the tip, such as is 

 found in wheat, oats, rye, and barley. The two styles are 

 thread-like and bare for the lower two-thirds of their length, 

 and then spread out into bushy stigmas. 

 13 



