ANDROPOGON SORGHUM 



193 



encloses the parts of the fertile flower. The lemma of the 

 fertile flower is broad, hairy, and two-cleft at the tip; there 

 arises in the cleft, as a rule, a long awn which projects from 

 the spikelet. The awn may be very short or only represented 

 by a bristle. The palet is frequently absent; when pres- 



lemma of jkrile Jlower- 



aniher- 



^ I "■.,1V 



-ovar\j 

 lemma of fertile flower— ^^^^, 



Fig. 71. — Spikelet of sorghum (Andropogon sorghum) dissected. Lodicule 

 X 10, all others X 5. 



ent, it is small and thin. There are two lodicules, which are 

 much broader than long, truncate, fleshy, and usually 

 thickly hairy. Three stamens are present. The sessile, 

 ovate ovary does not bear a tuft of hairs at the tip, such as is 

 found in wheat, oats, rye, and barley. The two styles are 

 thread-Uke and bare for the lower two-thirds of their length, 

 and then spread out into bushy stigmas. 

 13 



