2.3 Grasses

Question 1

Glumes

Answer 1

Empty scales at the bottom of grass plant spikelet. Found in pairs glume - singular

Question 2

Awn

Answer 2

A bristle arising from part of a grass spikelet

Question 3

Palea

Answer 3

Upper and inner scales of grass floret, enclosing grass floret, mostly two-keeled.

Question 4

Lemma

Answer 4

Lower of two bracts which enclose grass flower

Question 5

Rachilla

Answer 5

Middle axis of a spikelet bearing the florets.

Question 6

Constituent parts of floret

Answer 6

Lemma and pales

Question 7

Physical flowering structures of a typical grass [Bromus]

Answer 7

Anther

Stigma

Ovary

Loidicule

Question 8

Lodicules

Answer 8

Minute, scale like or even fleshier structure located at the base of stamens of a grass floret, often two per floret, greater in bamboos.

Question 9

Auricle

Answer 9

Having an ear-shaped lobe or appendage positioned at the junction of a sheathe and the leaf lamina.

Question 10

Culm and leaf sheath

Answer 10

Culm - Flowering stem produced by a grass plant, Leaf sheath - base part of a grass leaf enclosing the internode of a culm.

Question 11

Floret

Answer 11

Individual part of flower spikelet. mad up of lemma and palea inside which are enveloped reproductive parts.

Question 12

Ligule

Answer 12

Membranous tissue or line of hairs found on the inner adaxial side of the junction between the leaf sheath and blade of leaf.

Question 13

Panicle

Answer 13

Inflorescence where the primary axis provides branched secondary florets possessing pedicellate spikelets.

Question 14

Raceme

Answer 14

• unbranched growth axis which bears spikelets; can be known as solitary digitate or scattered.

Question 15

Spikelet

Answer 15

Essential part of inflorescence of a grass, made up of two glues and one or multiples of florets positioned on a rachilla.

Question 16

Tiller

Answer 16

A non-leafy, non flowering vegetative growth shoot.

Question 17

Grass flowers -adaption for wind pollination

Answer 17

Abundance of pollen contained in anthers.
Smooth, light weight pollen which travels well on air currents.
2/3 feathery stigmas to catch airborne pollen.

Doesn’t have following features which attract animal pollinators:
Brightly colored flowers
Guidelines to nectar
Nectar
Strong scent