118 A TEXT-BOOK OF GRASSES 



of Eragrostis cilianensis (E. megastachya) may be consid- 

 ered (Fig. 51). The lower pair of bracts are empty and 

 are called glumes. The lower is the first glume; the upper 

 the second glume. The midnerve is the keel. The bracts 

 above the glumes are regularly arranged on a slender 

 axis or rachilla, alternately in 2 ranks. These are called 

 lemmas. In the axil of each lemma, except 1 or more of 

 the reduced uppermost, there is a flower, and between the 

 flower and the axis a second smaller bract called the palea. 

 The lemmas are also keeled and have a pair of lateral 

 nerves. The palea is 2-keeled, and is inclosed within the 

 margins of the lemma. The lemma and palea together 

 with the inclosed sexual organs are called the floret. 



The spikelet may be interpreted as a specialized 

 branch, bearing a series of bracts, or modified leaves, the 

 lower pair (glumes) being empty, the others (lemmas) 

 bearing a much specialized branchlet (the flower) in the 

 axil, the palea being the prophyllum. 



The terminology here adopted differs somewhat from that in 

 common use in early works on agrostology. The terms with which 

 the student is more likely to come in contact are: For glume, the 

 terms empty glume and empty scale; for lemma, the terms flowering 

 glume, flowering scale and lower palea or palet; for palea the altered 

 spelling palet. The objection to the term scale is that this name is 

 apphed only to modified leaves on a shoot below the foliage-leaves. 

 The modified leaves of the spikelet are, then, to be included under 

 the general designation, bracts. It seems desirable, however, that 

 special terms be adopted for these parts as they are so often used. 

 In this the writer is following the leading contemporary works on 

 plant morphology. Again, for the sake of brevity and precision, 

 there is a distinct advantage in using separate terms for the bracts 

 containing flowers, and for the empty pair at the base of the spikelet. 

 Morphologically the glumes and lemmas are equivalent, and hence 

 the terms empty glume and flowering glume are entirely proper. 

 But the constant difference in relation and function justifies the 



