Spikelet
A spikelet, in
monocots
.
Each spikelet has one or more
: 13In grasses
In
glumes, followed by one or more florets.[1]: 13 A floret consists of the flower surrounded by two bracts, one external—the lemma—and one internal—the palea. The perianth is reduced to two scales, called lodicules,[1]
: 11 that expand and contract to spread the lemma and palea; these are generally interpreted to be modified sepals.
The flowers are usually
hermaphroditic—maize being an important exception—and mainly anemophilous or wind-pollinated, although insects occasionally play a role.[2]
Lemma
Lemma is a
palea
may represent the other two members, having been joined together).
A lemma's shape, their number of veins, whether they are awned or not, and the presence or absence of hairs are particularly important characters in grass taxonomy.
Palea
Palea, in
organs
in the spikelet.
The palea is the uppermost of the two chaff-like bracts that enclose the grass floret (the other being the
monocots
. The third member may be absent or it may be represented by the lemma, according to different botanical interpretations.
The perianth interpretation of the palea is supported by the expression of
eudicot plants.[3]
Lodicule
A lodicule is the structure that consists of between one and three small scales at the base of the ovary in a grass flower that represent the
bracts
, exposing the flower's reproductive organs.
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 9780901158420.
- .
- ^ Prasad, K, et al. (2005) OsMADS1, a rice MADS-box factor, controls differentiation of specific cell types in the lemma and palea and is an early-acting regulator of inner floral organs. The Plant Journal 43, 915–928
| Authority control databases: National |
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