spikelet

[ spahyk-lit ]

noun

, Botany.

1. a small or secondary spike in grasses; one of the flower clusters, the unit of inflorescence, consisting of two or more flowers and subtended by one or more glumes variously disposed around a common axis.

spikelet

/ ˈspaɪklɪt /

noun

1. botany the unit of a grass inflorescence, typically consisting of two bracts (glumes) surrounding one or more florets, each of which is itself surrounded by two bracts See lemma 1 palea
2. the small inflorescence of plants of other families, esp the sedges

spikelet

/ spīk′lĭt /

1. 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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of spikelet¹

First recorded in 1785–95; spike ² + -let

Example Sentences

Spikelet single, terminating the naked culm, many–several-flowered.

From Project Gutenberg

Spikelet with a reddish tinge; awn almost smooth, less than 20 mm.

From Project Gutenberg