18 



FLOWERS 



Other names are often applied to the glume and lemma. In 

 courses in Agriculture, the glume is often called outer or empty 

 glume and the lemma, the flowering glume. 



The pistillate flowers are arranged on a cob and enclosed by 

 husks, so that only the outer ends or silks of the pistils are 



Fig. 14. — A spikelet from the Corn tassel 

 two staminate flowers 



The flowers are numbered (1) and (2), No. 1 being more mature 

 /, lemma; /;, palea; s, stamens; I, lodicules. 



Much enlarged to show the 

 glumes; 



exposed. When the husks are removed, the flowers are seen 

 arranged on the cob just as the kernels are in the mature ear, for 

 each kernel develops from a flower. Explain what is shown in 

 Figure 15. The pistillate flowers occur in groups of two's or 

 spikelets, but only one flower of the spikelet completes its 

 development. The flower which remains rudimentary develops 

 no silk and remains so inconspicuous that one needs a magnifier 

 to see it. Since it has no pistil, its presence is known only by its 

 bracts. In Figure 16, point out the rudimentary flower and the 

 one that develops. 



