CHAP. ir. 
BRACTS. 
149 
The most remarkable arrangement of bracts takes place 
in Grasses, in which they occupy the place of calyx and 
corolla, and have received a variety of names from different 
systematic writers. In order to explain the application of 
these terms, it is necessary to describe with some minuteness 
the structure of a locusta or spikelet^ as the partial inflores- 
cence of Grasses is denominated. Take, for example, any 
common Bromus; each spikelet will be seen to have at its 
base two opposite empty bracts (Jig. 67. ^), one of which is 
attached to the rachis a little above the base of the other : 
these are \he glumes of Linnseus and most botanists, the gluma 
exterior or calycinalis of some writers, the tegmen of Palisot 
de Beauvois, the lepicena of Richard, the ccetonium of Trinius, 
and, finally, the peristachyum of Panzer. Above the glumes are 
several florets sitting in denticulations of the rachis (Jig. 67. c) : 
each of these consists of one bract, with the midrib quitting 
the blade a little below the apex, and elongated into a bristle 
called the awn, heard, or arista, and of another bract facing 
the first, with its back to the rachis, bifid at the apex, with no 
dorsal vein, but with its edges inflexed, and a rib on each side 
at the line of inflexion (Jig. 67. a). These bracts are the 
corolla of Linnaeus, the calyx of Jussieu, the perianthium of 
Brown, the gluma interior or corollina and perigonium of some, 
the stragulum of Palisot de Beauvois, the gluma of Richard, 
the bale or glumella of De Candolle and Desvaux, the palece 
of others. When the arista proceeds from the very apex of 
the bracts, and not from below it, it is denominated in the 
writings of Palisot a seta. Within the last-mentioned bracts, 
and opposite to them, are situated two extremely minute, 
colourless fleshy scales (Jig. 67. e), which are sometimes 
connate : these are named corolla by Micheli and Dumortier, 
nectarium by Linnaeus, squarnulce by Jussieu and Brown, 
glumella by Richard, glumellula by Desvaux and De Candolle, 
lodicula by Palisot de Beauvois, and periphyllia by Link. 
Amidst these conflicting terms it is not easy to determine 
which to adopt. I recommend the exterior empty bracts to 
be called glumes ; those immediately surrounding the fer- 
tilising organs palece ; and the minute hypogynous ones scales 
or squarnulce. 
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