= Spikelet
A <spikelet> is a small unit of the <inflorescence> of a <grass>, containing one or more <florets> on a short axis. Usually a pair of <glumes> occurs at the base, and each <floret> is associated with a <lemma (botany)> and <palea (botany)>.<Glossary of Botanical Terms by PlantNET>[S entries, spikelet; I–L entries, lemma; P entries, palea]{ref}
This hierarchy matters when counting. An apparent “grain-bearing unit” can be a <spikelet> with several <flowers>, so counting <spikelets> is not generally the same as counting <flowers> or mature <seeds>. To inspect one, separate the basal <glumes> and then examine the individual <florets> inside. The nested organization links a recognizable cereal head to the reproductive structures of other <angiosperms>.
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