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. 
Corn 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 13 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 ,,. eae 
close.contact, that in order to identify each Corn tassel. sp, 
flower, the bracts must be spread apart as spikelets. Only three 
shown in Figure 14. In the older flower, the of the spikelets are 
stamens have elongated and pushed out of an a elently 
the bracts. The boat-shaped bracts are so ito 
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. 
