PEDICELED SPIKELETS 



29 



Fig. 19. Spikelet of 

 Melica mutica. 



attached to the floret next below, it disarticulates at 

 its base, remaining as a tiny feathery stem to the 

 floret next above, its copious long hairs carrying the 

 floret before the wind, dispersing the 

 seed. [The hairs are much more co- 

 pious than shown in the figure; they 

 are slighted to avoid obscuring the 

 difference in the florets.] 



Another spikelet with two kinds of 

 florets is shown in Fig. 19 (Melica 

 mutica). In this the lemmas of the 

 upper florets are reduced in size, 

 changed in shape, and contain no flower. Two or 

 three of them are crowded together in a little club- 

 shaped body. In the species figured, this modifica- 

 tion is more marked than in most of the species. 



In Fig. 20 is shown 

 a side view of the 

 florets of a spikelet of 

 Pappophorwn vaginor 

 turn, the glimies re- 

 moved. The lowest 

 floret is perfect. Its 

 broad lemma is cut into 

 many spreading awns 

 (compare with Fig. 17). 

 The two to four other 

 florets are crowded on' 

 the very short rachilla and are sterile ; their lemmas 

 are similar to that of the one fertile floret. The 



Fig. 20. Florets of Pappophorum 



