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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.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of spikelet1

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

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Example Sentences

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

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

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spike lavenderspike moss

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