spikelet

spike·let  (spklt)

n.

A small or secondary spike, characteristic of grasses and sedges, having a varying number of reduced flowers each subtended by one or two scalelike bracts.

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spikelet  (spklt)

A small spike, especially one that is part of the characteristic inflorescence of grasses and sedges. A grass spikelet consists of one or more florets (reduced flowers). Each floret contains a pistil and stamens and is enclosed by two bracts, the lemma and the palea. At the base of the entire spikelet are two additional scalelike bracts, the glumes.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

spikelet - a small sharp-pointed tip resembling a spike on a stem or leaf pricker, prickle, sticker, thorn, spine aculeus - a stiff sharp-pointed plant process glochid, glochidium - a barbed spine or bristle (often tufted on cacti)