Glume
/ɡlum/
Definition
Glume refers to one of the small, dry, leaf-like bracts at the base of a grass or sedge spikelet, the basic unit of the flower cluster. Usually two glumes enclose or subtend the florets, helping protect them and aiding identification. They differ from lemmas and paleas, which are bracts directly associated with each individual floret rather than the whole spikelet.
Function in Plants
- Protection around florets: In grasses and other members of the sedge-like groups, glume helps shield the developing florets from drying, minor damage, and shifting weather while the flower cluster matures.
- Clue for plant identification: Its size, texture, veins, and tip shape are often used to tell similar grass or sedge species apart, especially when leaves alone look too much alike.
- Part of seed and chaff structure: After flowering and seed set, glume may remain attached and become part of the chaff, influencing how the seed unit is handled, cleaned, or dispersed.
- Useful in grass flower anatomy: Looking at glume in relation to the spikelet helps explain how grass flowers are arranged, which is a key feature in botany and grass classification.
Related Terms
Lemma
Lemma refers to the lower of the two bracts that enclose each floret in grasses and other members of the grass family…
Grass
Grass refers to plants in the family Poaceae, a large group of narrow-leaved flowering monocots that include lawn…
Floret
Floret refers to a small individual flower that is part of a larger flower cluster, especially in dense heads or…
Inflorescence
Inflorescence refers to the arrangement of flowers on a plant, or the complete flowering structure that bears a cluster…
Sedge
Sedge refers to a grass-like flowering plant in the family Cyperaceae, often found in wetlands but also in meadows…
Spike
Spike refers to a type of inflorescence, or flower cluster, in which individual flowers are attached directly to the…