palea

[ pey-lee-uh ]

noun

, plural pa·le·ae [pey, -lee-ee].

1. a chafflike scale or bract.
2. the scalelike, membranous organ in the flowers of grasses that is situated upon a secondary axis in the axil of the flowering glume and envelops the stamens and pistil.

palea

/ ˌpeɪlɪˈeɪʃəs; ˈpeɪlɪə /

noun

1. the inner of two bracts surrounding each floret in a grass spikelet Compare lemma 1
2. any small membranous bract or scale

palea

/ pā′lēə /

, Plural paleae pā′lē-ē′

1. The inner or upper of the two bracts enclosing one of the small flowers within a grass spikelet.
2. The chaffy scales on the receptacle of a flower head in a plant of the composite family.

Derived Forms

• paleaceous, adjective

Other Words From

• pa·le·a·ceous [pey-lee-, ey, -sh, uh, s], pa·le·ate [pey, -lee-it, ‑-eyt], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of palea¹

1745–55; < New Latin, special use of Latin palea chaff

Word History and Origins

Origin of palea¹

C18: from Latin: straw, chaff; see pallet ¹

Example Sentences

Pareah (Palea) seems to have been the principal instrument in bringing about this fatal disaster.

From Project Gutenberg

The fourth glume and its palea adhere together by their margins.

From Project Gutenberg

Grain is free and enclosed by the hardened fourth glume and its palea.

From Project Gutenberg

On the other face of the grain which is towards the palea, the hilum is seen at the base.

From Project Gutenberg

The grain is oblong, free within the hardened glume and its palea.

From Project Gutenberg