Husk

A husk is a high leaf in spikelets, the partial inflorescence of grasses ( Poaceae ) and Sedges ( Cyperaceae ). Husks are usually trockenhäutig and surround the flowers.

The Sedges have only a husk, it is the cover page of each flower.

The grasses in the spikelets several husks are available. Shape and number of husks are often characteristic determining characteristics for the grass species.

Glume

Two glumes or GLUMAE (singular: Gluma ) sit at the base of the spikelet. Before flowering, in the bud stage, they envelop the whole spikelets similar to bud scales. Usually two glumes are formed, a lower and an upper. More than two are never formed. The husks, sometimes referred to as third and fourth glume in some species are lemmas whose florets are greatly reduced. In some species, the number of glumes is reduced: In the ryegrass species ( Lolium ) is missing the lower glume, only the terminal spikelet glumes are both available. In the genus of finger millet ( Digitaria ) the lower glume is reduced to a scale, in the mat-grass ( Nardus stricta ) are both reduced to small, pointed scales. Size, shape, venation, texture and hair are very diverse. The simplest form is lanceolate, more annoying, membranous and green, the lower glume is usually shorter than the upper.

Lemma

A lemma or lemma ( Palea inferior) is at the axis of the spikelet. Depending on the number of flowers in the spikelets, there are one to several lemmas, each wrapped with a palea, a single flower, which has its source in her shoulder. The lemma is the cover sheet ( support sheet ) a flower. Lemmas are much more diverse than the glumes. In the simple form, they are similar to the glumes. In derbhäutigen lemmas can be a germ column be preformed, such as various millet ( Panicum, Setaria, Echinochloa crus- galli ). In many plant taxa bear the lemma awns. This is usually an extension of the central nerve. The awn may be straight or geniculate, or rotated moldings span like in the lower part. Rare is the formation of several awns per glume, which then emerge from the lateral nerves.

Palea

The palea Palea or ( Palea superior, rarely also Glumella ) is on the axis of a flower within the spikelet. A palea is formed per flower. On the origin of the palea, there are two hypotheses: According to one, it is the cover page of flowering, after another they arose from two petals of the outer Perigonkreises. The palea sits adaxial style to the ovary, ie to Ährchenachse out. It is much more uniform than the other designed husks: usually two annoying, narrow, elongated and with two peaks at the top. Frequently they are clearly keeled, distinguishing between the two keels of the two nerves a channel is formed. With reduced flowers the palea is often stunted, very rarely is stunted in trained flowers, such as the genus of the bunch grasses ( Agrostis ).