2. The arrangement and structure of the flowers.—Take an open spikelet from the ear of a grass (e.g. oat) which has large flowers, [Pg 129] and examine it. At the bottom are two boat-shaped leaves—really bracts—called glumes. Remove them carefully. Above them will be found two or more flowers, each flower enclosed in two other leaves. The outer of these two leaves is called the outer pale; the inner is the inner pale. From the middle of the back of the outer pale of the oat springs a bristle called an awn. Remove the outer pale and make out the three anthers on long filaments, and the ovary with two branching feathery stigmas and short styles. Fig. 100 is a diagram of a spikelet, which makes clear the relation of the glumes, pales, and flowers. Fig. 101, A, is a spikelet of meadow fescue. Its outer pales differ from those of the oat in not bearing awns. Otherwise it is very similar. Fig. 101, B, shows the appearance (magnified) of a flower of meadow fescue from which the outer pale has been removed. The two little scales seen in front of the ovary possibly represent a perianth. Be careful not to confuse the terms ear, spikelet, and flower. The ear consists of a number of spikelets, and each spikelet consists of glumes and one or more flowers. Similarly dissect spikelets and flowers of other grasses, making notes of the lengths of the stalks of the spikelets, and the presence (and lengths) or absence of awns. 3. The use of the awns.—Try to find out the use of the awns. Are they generally rough or smooth? Have you ever seen grass “seeds” sticking in the wool of sheep? What kept them attached? 4. Grain.—Examine several kinds of grass “seeds” and make out that they not only consist of the entire ripened ovary and are therefore fruits, but that usually the pales also remain attached to them. 5. The embryo and endosperm.—Again cut through soaked grains of maize and wheat, and make out the embryo and endosperm (p. 19). Grass flowers.—Grasses are true flowering plants; but because they depend on the wind for the transference of pollen to the stigmas, they do not pander to the taste of bees and butterflies by secreting [Pg 130] nectar, and hence have no need to display those advertisement placards which we call petals. For this reason their flowers are not generally recognised as such. It requires a little care to make out the parts of the flower and to understand the manner in which the flowers are arranged among themselves. Fig. 100—Diagram of a Grass Spikelet. g, the glumes; p₁ and p₂, the outer and inner pales; B, flower.