Weatherwax : The Oriental Maydeae 
9 
Figs. 14-18. Fruits of Coix. Fig. 14. The Type commonly used 
for beads. Fig. 16. A soft shelled variety (Ma-yuen) used as a cereal. 
Fig. 17. Fruits deeply grooved along one side. Fig. 18. Long, curved 
or cylindrical fruits of the variety stenocarpa. 
Figs. 19-21. Caryopsis of Coix. Fig. 19. The cereal type shown 
in Figure 16. Fig. 20. Elongated caryopsis of the variety shown in 
Figure 18. Fig. 21. Small caryopsis from the relatively large fruit 
shown in Figure 15. 
brought under cultivation (5, p. 194), a genetic change whose 
mechanism would make an interesting study. When for any 
reason fecundation fails to occur, the spathe soon ceases devel- 
opment and dies without becoming indurated and silicified. 
The resulting chalky-white blind fruit is readily distinguished 
from fully developed fruits. 
Disarticulation of the fruit from the peduncle at maturity 
leaves a tiny opening thru the base of the spathe, connecting 
with the interior cavity, which is, of course, open also at the 
top. When this opening is large enough the fruits may be 
strung as beads, and this is the principal use of the hard- 
shelled varieties. 
Two-seeded fruits are occasionally found, due to the occur- 
rence of two pistillate spikelets within one spathe. In some 
such cases the upper spikelet may have a poorly developed 
spathe of its own, the whole being included in the spathe of 
the lower (6). 
The caryopsis, or fruit proper, depends for its size and 
shape very largely upon the nature of the space in which it 
develops inside the spathe. It is usually oval or elongated, and 
deeply grooved over the embryo, along the side which is in 
contact with the rachis and sterile pedicels (Figs. 19-21). The 
reserve food in the endosperm is usually rich in starch, but in 
