CORN FLOWERS 



17 



are usually green like leaves, and their stamens and pistils are 

 enclosed and protected by small leaf-like bodies called bracts, 

 which take the place of a calyx and corolla. Although quite 

 inconspicuous, yet in being characteristic of such Grasses 

 as Corn, Wheat, Oats, Barley, Rye, Rice, 

 and Timothy, Grass flowers are so im- 

 portant that they deserve some special 

 attention. 



Com Flowers. — ■ As already stated (page 

 14) Corn flowers are unisexual. The stami- 

 nate flowers are produced in the tassel, 

 while the pistillate flowers occur on the ear. 

 (Fig. 12.) 



The staminate flowers bear three stamens 

 and occur in groups of twos, called spikelets. 

 The branches of the tassel upon which the 

 spikelets are crowded are known as spikes. 

 In Figure IS is shown a spike or branch of 

 the Corn tassel so drawn as to show the 

 spikelets. 



The two flowers of each spikelet are in such 

 close contact, that in order to identify each 

 flower, the bracts must be spread apart as spikelets. Only three 

 shown in Figure I4. In the older flower, the °^ ^^^ spikelets are 

 stamens have elongated and pushed out of pojiitedout. SUghtly 

 the bracts. The boat-shaped bracts are so 

 fitted together as to make a good enclosure for the stamens 

 during their development. The two outer bracts, situated 

 on opposite sides of the spikelet and facing each other, so as 

 to close together and enclose the flowers, are known as glumes. 

 Between each glume and set of stamens is the bract called lemma. 

 The bract on the opposite side of the stamens, with its concave 

 side turned toward that of the lemma, is known as the palea. 

 The palea and lemma, when closed against each other, enclose 

 the stamens. The small bodies at the base of the stamens are 

 called lodicules, and may, by their swelling, spread the bracts 

 apart, thus helping the stamens to escape from their enclosure. 

 The structure of the flower will be more easily understood by a 

 study of Figure 14-. The glume is not considered a part of the 

 flower. The two glumes form a covering for the spikelet. 



Fig. 13. — A branch 

 or spike from the 

 Corn tassel, sp, 



