EXERCISE 31 

 A STUDY OF THE OAT HEAD 



Object. To examine the oat head and become familiar 

 with the shape and arrangement of its different parts. 



Explanation. The head of oats is commonly called a 

 panicle. It is made up of several parts, of which the oat grain 

 is the most important. The head is composed of a branching 

 stem and spikelets containing the grain. The branches of 

 the panicle are attached in groups to the main stem. The 

 spikelets are attached to these branches. 



Each spikelet has two or more kernels, usually only two. 

 Each kernel is inclosed within a flowering glume and palea. 

 The kernel, together with the flowering glume and palea, is 

 known as the grain, and is inclosed within the outer glume. 

 When the oat grain has an awn or beard, it grows out from 

 the back of the flowering glume. A sterile flower often de- 

 velops near the base of the second kernel. The flowering 

 glume and palea adhere tightly to the kernel and are not 

 removed by threshing. One kernel is a little larger than 

 the other. The smaller kernel develops near the base of the 

 larger kernel and is sometimes almost inclosed within the 

 flowering glume of the larger kernel. Figure 11 shows the 

 parts of the oat panicle. 



K 129 



