Question: I have some questions about sedge anatomy -- what are the proper names for the different parts of the flowering …
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Question
I have some questions about sedge anatomy -- what are the proper names for the different parts of the flowering stalk? In the earlier picture there are two groups of flowers separated by stems. Are they two "spikelets"? There are two types of structures emerging from beneath the scales. (Is "scales" correct?) One is fairly straight and yellow, initially appearing as a pair of tubes joined together. Closer to the base the emerging structures are whitish, more flexible, and fuzzy.
Answer
Dear jfc, good afternoon. You have photographed a staminate spike (spike with pollen-bearing flowers subtended by flat scales) and a carpellate spike (spike with ovule-bearing flowers subtended by two scales, a flat scale that you can see in the image and a sac-like scale--called a perigynium--that isn't visible yet. The yellow structures are anthers that contain pollen. The white structures that resemble pipe cleaners are the stigmatic surfaces of the carpel (below is the ovary, hidden by the scales). Let me know if you have other questions.
