40 



a LOSS A HY OF 



Bracts (or Scales) or Involucre. 



NuMHEK OF Rows : state the exact number, unless ver^' 

 numerous. 



Arrangement of Scales : 



(a) Imbricated, in several rows and over-lapping 

 (Fig. 233). 



(b) Reflexed, turned backward, as in Dandelion (Fig. 

 229). 



(c) Appressed, closely pressed together. 



(d) Squarrose, with the points widely spreading (Fig. 

 233). 



Texture : 



(a) Herbaceous, green and leaf-like. 



(b) Scarioua, thin and membranaceons. 

 Shape : use the ordinai-y leaf terms. 



GRASSES. 



Tliese plants also requii'e several special terms for their complete 

 descrii^tion. A few of the most necessary are given here. 



Inflorescence. 



In nearly all cases the inflorescence is a panicle, that is, an 

 irregulai'l}^ branched raceme, and the panicle is either 

 loose and open, as in Meadow-grass (Fig. 238), or dense 

 and closely' packed as in Timothy and Foxtail. 



Spikelets : the small separate clusters of flowers which 

 together make up the panicle (Fig. 239). In some cases 

 there is but one flower in the spikelet. 



Outer Glumes : the pair of bracts at the base of the spikelet 

 (Fig. 240). Note their shape and relative size. 



Inner Glumes or Palets : the pair of chafE-like bracts 

 enclosing each particular flower (Fig. 242). 



Awns : bristle-shaped appendages sometimes found on the 

 glumes or palets (Fig. 242). 



LoDicuLES : small hypogynous scales next to the stamens, 

 occasionally found in grass-flowers. 



Culm. 



This is the name of the stem (Fig. 238). It is usually JioUow 

 except at the joints. The culms may be tufted or single, 

 and their attitude and other characters can be described 

 by terms already explained. 



Fig. 234. 



Fig. -'."J. 





^--^? 



Fig. 237. 



Fig. 236. 



