Spikelet

A spikelet is a special way that plants like grasses, sedges, and some other flowering plants grow their flowers. This arrangement is important for how these plants reproduce and spread.

Each spikelet contains one or more tiny flowers called florets. These spikelets are then grouped together into larger structures called panicles or spikes. The part of the spikelet that holds the florets is known as the rachilla. This system helps scientists study and classify these plants better.

In grasses

In the grass family, a spikelet has two small leaf-like parts at the base, called glumes. These are followed by one or more florets. Each floret has a flower with two more leaf-like parts, called the lemma and the palea. These parts help protect the flower.

The flowers in grasses can usually make their own seeds. They are often pollinated by wind, but sometimes insects help. The shape and color of the lemma can help us tell different grass types apart.