ZEA 



167 



flowers, the lower one of which is abortive^ (Figs. 62 and 63). 

 The palet and lemma of the abortive flower remain, and form 

 a part of the "chaff" on the cob. The spikelet is subtended 



Fig. 63. — Longitudinal section of pistillate spikelet of Black Mexican 

 sweet corn, X 25. Sti, base of stigma; Siy, style; E, outline of embryo sac; 

 L, lemma; Pa, palet; St, stamen of aborted flower; Sc, stylar canal; Ov, func- 

 tional ovule; G, glume; Sta, rudimentary stamen; P, pistil of aborted flower; 

 J, joint of rachilla. (After Weatherwax.) 



by two glumes that are shorter than the ovary, very broad 

 and fleshy at the base, thin membranous above and fringed 



' Stewart has noted, in the Country Gentleman variety of corn, that some 

 spikelets bear two well-developed flowers inside each pair of glumes. He 

 further points out that the irregularity in the arrangement of grains on the 

 ear may be due to the development of the second flower in some of the spike- 

 lets, which tends to throw some of the grains out of line. The same has been 

 noted by Sturtevant and Kempton. 



