GROUP V. ANGIOSPERM.E : MONOCOTYLEDOXES. 



487 



contains only one ovule ; the grain is the fruit, a caryopsis, to 

 which one (the inferior) or, less commonly, both, of the palese some- 

 times adhere, e.g. Barley and Oats. 



The flower is sessile in the axil of a bract, which is termed the 

 inferior or outer palea, sometimes also called the flowering- glume 

 (Fig. 301 &j, & 2 ,...), and there is also a bracteole opposite to and 

 somewhat higher than this which is termed the superior or inner 

 palea (Fig. 301 ps). The two palese completely enclose the 

 flower. 



Within the inferior palea are usually two small (antero-lateral) 

 scales, the lodicules (sometimes only a single anterior one, Melica), 



FIG. 300. Single-flowered spikelet of 



Pant'cum miftaceum (mag.); C, and C, 



second and third glumes : D inferior 

 palea: E superior palea. 



Fio. 301.-A spikelet of Wheat dis- 

 sected (mag.) : * axis of the spikelet ; 

 g glumes ; 6, 5, b, b. inferior palee bear- 

 ing (gr) the awn ; 6, is sterile. B, J?, B t 

 the flowers raised (as indicated by the 

 dotted lines) out of the azila of the in- 

 ferior pale* ; pt superior palea. 1 ; a an- 

 thers ; /ovaries. 



and occasionally (e.g. Stipa, some Bambusese, Fig. 299 A), there is 

 a third scale situated posteriorly within the superior palea. These 

 lodicules are frequently regarded as rudimentary perianth- 

 leaves, but it is more probable that they are bracteoles, the 

 two antero-lateral lodicules representing the two halves of a single 

 bracteole, present, as such, in Melica. They grow and become 

 succulent at the time of flowering, thus forcing apart the palese 

 and the glumes. Usually two or more flowers, thus enclosed 

 by palese, are present on an axis (Fig. 301 a?), and constitute 

 the spikelet of the Grass, and beneath the lowest flower there 

 are usually two (or more) bracts which bear no flowers in their 



