exture. This is
called the =palea=. The fourth glume and its palea adhere together by
their margins. Inside the fourth glume and between it and the palea
there are three stamens and an ovary with two styles ending in feathery
stigmas. Just in front of the ovary and outside the stamens two very
small scale-like bodies are found. These are the =lodicules=. They are
fleshy and well developed in flowers that are about to open. In the
spikelet there is only one full flower. The third glume contains no
flower in it, but occasionally there may be in its axil three stamens.
The first two glumes are always empty and so they are called empty
glumes. (See fig. 4.) In mature spikelets the grain which is free is
enclosed by the fourth glume and its palea.

[Illustration: Fig. 4.--Parts of the spikelets of Panicum javanicum.

A. A spikelet; 1, 2, 3 and 4. the first, second, third and the fourth
glume, respectively; 3a. palea of the third glume; 4a. palea of the
fourth glume; 5. lodicules; 6. stamens; 7. ovary; 8. stigmas.]

CHAPTER II.

THE VEGETATIVE ORGANS.

Grasses vary very much in their habit. Some grasses grow erect forming
tufts and others form cushions with the branches creeping along the
ground. (See figs. 5 and 6.) We usually find all intermediate stages
from the erect to the prostrate habit. Underground stems such as stolons
and rhizomes occur in some grasses. Grasses of one particular species
generally retain the same habit but this does not always hold good. For
example _Tragus racemosus_ grows with all its branches quite prostrate
in a poor, dry, open soil. If, on the other hand, this happens to grow
in rich soils, or amidst other plants or grasses, it assumes an erect,
somewhat tufted habit. _Andropogon contortus_ and _Andropogon pertusus_
are other grasses with a tendency for variation in habit. Plants that
are usually small often attain large dimensions under favourable
conditions of growth. Ordinarily the grass _Panicum javanicum_ grows
only to 1 or 2 feet. (See fig. 1.) The same plant in a good rich soil
grew to about 6 feet in four months. (See fig. 7.)

[Illustration: Fig. 5.--Eleusine aegyptiaca.]

Some grasses are annual while others are perennial. It is often
difficult to determine whether a certain grass is annual or perennial.
But by examining the shoot-system this can be ascertained easily. In an
annual all the stems and branches usually end in inflorescences and they
will all be of the same