TECHNOLOGY OF CEREALS FIG 2.9 Spikes of A. wheat and B rye. Wheat may be awned(bearded)(ii)or awnless (i) are also spikes with spikelets alternating on a are many different species belonging to several rachis, each spikelet however contains up to six different tribes(see Fig. 2. 25) and no generaliza forets(Fig. 2. 9). tions about their inforescences are possible( details It is unusual for all six forets in a spikelet to of most are given in hulse et al., 1980 ) Pearl be fertile and those at the extremes of the millet has a spike which may be anything between inflorescence may bear only one or even no fertile a few centimeters to a metre long. It is densely forets. Variants of wheat spikes are illustrated packed with groups of 2-5 spikelets, surrounded by Peterson(1965). As in oats the grains in the by 30-40 bristles(Fig. 2. 11). Florets may be wo basal forets are the largest. Those in the bisexual or male only centre of the spike are larger than those at In maize the male spikes occurring at the top the extremes(Bremner and rawson, 1978). The of the culm bear spikelets in pairs, one being variation in size occurs as a function of the ability sessile, and the other pedicellate. Both types of each grain to compete for nutrients but also contain two forets, each with three anthers. The of the period of development, the earliest to entire male inflorescence is known as the tassel flower being those in the basal forets of the (Fig. 2. 2). On the female inflorescences the central spikelets(Fig. 2.10) spikelets again carry two florets but only one is Millets are an extremely diverse group there fertile, the upper functions while the lower one32 TECHNOLOGY OF CEREALS FIG 2.9 Spikes of A. wheat and B. rye. Wheat may be awned (bearded) (ii) or awnless (i). are also spikes with spikelets alternating on a are many different species belonging to several rachis, each spikelet however contains up to six different tribes (see Fig. 2.25) and no generaliza￾florets (Fig. 2.9). tions about their inflorescences are possible (details It is unusual for all six florets in a spikelet to of most are given in Hulse et al., 1980.) Pearl be fertile and those at the extremes of the millet has a spike which may be anything between inflorescence may bear only one or even no fertile a few centimeters to a metre long. It is densely florets. Variants of wheat spikes are illustrated packed with groups of 2-5 spikelets, surrounded by Peterson (1965). As in oats the grains in the by 30-40 bristles (Fig. 2.11). Florets may be two basal florets are the largest. Those in the bisexual or male only. centre of the spike are larger than those at In maize the male spikes occurring at the top the extremes (Bremner and Rawson, 1978). The of the culm bear spikelets in pairs, one being variation in size occurs as a function of the ability sessile, and the other pedicellate. Both types of each grain to compete for nutrients but also contain two florets, each with three anthers. The of the period of development, the earliest to entire male inflorescence is known as the tassel flower being those in the basal florets of the (Fig. 2.2). On the female inflorescences the central spikelets (Fig. 2.10). spikelets again carry two florets but only one is Millets are an extremely diverse group, there fertile, the upper functions while the lower one