Question

Characteristic bracts associated with spikelet inflorescence of grasses are?
a. Involucral bracts
b. Glumes
c. Pappus
d. Spathes

Answer 1

Hint: Bracts are the leaves which contain flower or inflorescence in their axil. These are usually small and green but in some plants like Bougainvillea and Euphorbia, these are large and bright colored.

Complete answer:
> Option A:
The modified leaves that are associated with a flower or inflorescence is called a bract. They may be smaller, larger, of various colors. Shape, etc. so they are different from the foliage leaves. The florets in grasses are enclosed in a peppery bracket pair called lemma and palea. Lemma are the lower bracts while palea are the upper bracts.

> Option B:
Glumes are the pair of bracts at the base of each spikelet. The glumes from the chaff that is removed from the cereal grains at the time of threshing and winnowing.

> Option C:
Pappus is a modification of calyx that is present at the base of the corolla tube in flower heads. This is found in the plant family Asteraceae. The pappus in some plants helps in the dispersal of seeds with the help of winds, for example dandelion.

> Option D:
A large bract that forms a sheath enclosing flower clusters in plants like Commelina, palms, etc. is known as spathes. In some plants the spathe is petal-like that helps in attracting pollinators for the flowers on the spadix which is a type of spike.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Note: The typical arrangement of flowers in grasses is called spikelet. The spikelets consist of one or more florets and are grouped to form spikes or panicles. The spikelet rachilla which bears the florets.