BOTANICAL CHARACTERS 



95 



The only exceptions are the two earliest flint breeds, and CHAP. 



here the figures would seem to indicate that earliness is pro- 

 duced by the hastening of the period between flowering and 

 ripening. 



73. The Spikelet. — The tassel consists of numerous 

 branches (Fig. 40) bearing more or less distichous rows of 

 staminate spikelet s 

 (Fig. 40A) which are 

 arranged in pairs, 

 one pedicellate 

 (stalked), the other 

 sessile (without a 

 stalk). Each spike- 

 let consists of a 

 pair of protective, 

 sheath-like bracts, 

 called glumes or 

 " empty glumes " 

 (Fig. 4ld), which 

 enclose two florets. 

 Each floret consists . . ., , 



of a pair of thin ^^^^ 

 bracts, the lower or 

 outer of which is 

 called the valve 

 (called also "flower- 

 ing glume " by some 

 botanists), and the 

 upper or inner the 

 palea. 



Enclosed within 

 the valve and palea 

 of each floret, when 

 in bud, are three stamens (Figs. 40 and 41); there are thus 

 six stamens to each spikelet. When the flowers open, the 

 stamens are exserted (pushed out). Each stamen is composed 

 of a long and narrow anther hanging freely at the end of a 

 fine, slender thread, the filament. Each anther consists of two 

 sacs, attached side by side, and having an opening, a pore, 

 at the lower end, for the emission of the minute, dust-like^ 



IV. 



Fig. 40. — Tassel of sugar maize, with male 

 spikelet and stamens enlarged 



