144 = | ~+FLOWERING PLANTS 
outside of all 2 large scales, one just below the other ; these 
are called the outer and inner glumes (Plate IX., Fig. 139, 0). 
These enclose all the flowers of the spikelet. When they are 
removed (and care should be taken to remove only the 
glumes), there will usually be seen 3 other pairs of scales, 
more delicate than the glumes; these are the pales (palew); 
each pair encloses a flower. The outermost pale is at the 
base of the flower-stalk, and is the larger of the two, and 
bears an arm, whilst the inner pale is smaller and rather 
higher up the stalk, nearer the flower. A fourth pair of pales 
is usually found at the extreme end of the principal stalk, but 
these do not enclose a flower (see Fig. 139). 
To sum up, a spikelet usually consists ot : : 
1. An outer and inner glume. 
2. Four pairs of pales, three enclosing flowers, the terminal 
one without a flower. — 
structure The parts of a flower are shown in Fig. Eon. 
of Flower. The pales are seen removed ; then comes the flower 
proper. This consists of 3 stamens, which have slender 
filaments and versatile anthers, so _ 
_ that the stamens hang down when 
.fully developed, and the pollen is 
therefore easily scattered. The 
most conspicuous part of the gyne- 
cium are the 2 plume-like stigmas, 
which would lead one to expect 
2 carpels, but it is clear from the 
development of the ovary that 
there is but 1 carpel.. 
There is no perianth, though 
just below the stamens 2 little 
scales, called lodicules, may be seen. These are probably 
of the nature of bracts, not floral leaves; their function 1s 
to push apart the pales when the flower is mature. 

Fic. 140.—Fiorat DIAGRAM 
oF A TYPICAL GRASS. 
So far a typical Grass has been described, but all Grasses: 
have not necessarily 3 flowers in a spikelet ; the number varies 
very much, and there are also Grasses in which some spikelets 
contain only stamens, others only a gynecium. 


