VI 



SPIKE AND SPIKELET 



87 



the flowers are arranged without stalks — i.e. sitting 

 directly on it — and so that the youngest are above and 

 the older below, a Spike, and each spikelet is a little spike 



Fig. 31. Diagram of a spikelet 

 of Wheat dissected ( x about 

 5) showing — from below up- 

 wards — the two glumes, two 

 paleae, two lodieules, three 

 stamens, and the ovary of 

 the typical grass. Oliver. 



Fig. 32. Diagram of a spikelet of 

 Anthoxanthiwi dissected (x about 

 8), and showing — from below 

 upwards — two outer and two 

 (awned) inner glumes, two paleae, 

 two stamens, and the ovary. 

 There are no lodieules. Oliver. 



On looking at the total inflorescence of the Nardus we 

 see that we have a number of spikelets seated on the sides 

 of an axis : this is then a spike of spikelets, or, shortly, a 

 Spike^ (Fig. 5). Mibora and Lepturus afford other ex- 

 amples. In Panicum, Cynodon (Fig. 2) and Spartina we 

 have groups of such spikes. 



1 Strictly speaking a spike is an axis bearing sessile flowers — not 

 sessile spikelets : in Grasses, however, the conventional abbreviated term 

 is sanctioned by long usage. The same applies to the panicle, &c. 



