Glume (Noun)
Meaning
Small dry membranous bract found in inflorescences of Gramineae and Cyperaceae.
Classification
Nouns denoting plants.
Examples
- The glume is a small, dry, membranous bract that encloses the flower in inflorescences of the grass family Poaceae.
- In some species of Cyperaceae, the glume is highly modified to resemble a floret.
- Careful observation of the glume and its relationship to the florets can help in identifying different genera of grasses.
- In certain grasses, the lower glume is much shorter than the upper glume, aiding in species identification.
- A combination of glume shape, size, and venation pattern is often used as a key characteristic in grass taxonomy.