Lemma (botany)

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Lemma, when used as a term in botany, refers to a part of the spikelet of grasses (Poaceae). It is the lowermost of two chaff-like bracts enclosing the grass floret. It often bears a long bristle (awn), and may be similar in form to the glumes - chaffy bracts at the base of each spikelet. It is usually interpreted as a bract but it has also been interpreted as one remnant (the abaxial) of the three members of outer perianth whorl (the palea (botany) may represent the other two members, having been joined together).

Lemmas provide important characters for grass taxonomy, particularly their shape, whether awned or not, presence or absence of hairs and number of veins.