spikelet

The basic unit of a grass inflorescence. It consists of a short axis or *rachilla , two bracts or *glumes , and one or more florets and their bracts (the *lemma and *palea ). Spikelet characteristics such as size, number of florets, or how it fractures at maturity may be used as diagnostic traits for the genus. The whole spikelet is the unit of dispersal for such grasses as Holcus and Setaria.