THE PRELIMINARY RESEARCH ON THE TERMINAL SPIKELET OF WHEAT

1. The glumes of the terminal spikelet have peculiar forms. The second glume and lemma are often similar in form, but sometimes there are some remainders of stamen or palea in the axil of it. Thus it can be seen that the terminal spikelet is unstable and variable.2. The two glumes of the terminal spikelet are parallel to the flat sides of the rachis. The terminal spikelet occur at the apex of rachis, is not in the axil of the original body of bracteal leaf. There is not small collar under it. The glumes and floret's lemmas of the terminal spikelet are parallel to the leteral spikelets and the small collars. The results show clearly that the terminal spikelet is the first axial spikelet.3. Under given conditions, the new leteral spikelets can grow up from the axils of the glumes and floret's lemmas of the terminal spikelet. The glumes and lemmas are sometimes remained outside of the new leteral spikelets. Therefore, the degenerative florets in the axils of the glumes and the florets in the axils of the lemmas of the terminal spikelet as well as the leteral spikelets are all the second axial branches.4. The variations of the terminal spikelet are from bottom to top. There is not a line of demarcation between the new perellal spikelets and the below perellal spikelets.5. The facts fully prove that the terminal spikelet is the first axial inflorescence. It is the variable part of spike top.