Floret

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The rachilla, sterile lemmas and the rudimentary glumes all support the floret. The floret includes the lemma, palea, and the flower.

The larger protective glume covering the floret is called the lemma and the smaller one is referred to as the palea.

Both the lemma and palea have ridges referred to as nerves. The lemma has five while the palea has three. The middle nerve of the lemma can be either smooth or hairy.

The lemma has a constricted structure at its end called the keel. In some varieties, the keel is elongated into a thin extension, the awn.

Fig. 40 - Awn and keel.