glume

American  

[gloom] / glum /

noun

Botany.

1. one of the characteristic chafflike bracts of the inflorescence of grasses, sedges, etc., especially one of the pair of bracts at the base of a spikelet.

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glume British  

/ ɡluːm /

noun

1. botany one of a pair of dry membranous bracts at the base of the spikelet of grasses

2. the bract beneath each flower in a sedge or related plant

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glume Scientific  

/ glo̅o̅m /

1. One of the two chaffy bracts at the base of a grass spikelet.

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Other Word Forms

• glumaceous adjective
• glumelike adjective

Etymology

Origin of glume

1570–80; < Latin glūma husk enclosing a cereal grain, probably equivalent to glūb ( ere ) to strip the bark from + *-sma noun suffix

Example Sentences

Root perennial; culm 2–4° high; leaves broad, flat; panicle elongated; glumes scarious, very unequal.—Meadows and lots; absurdly called Grass of the Andes.

From Project Gutenberg

The others retained the elongated, narrow, brownish-red ears, the flowering glumes again opening wide for some days.

From Project Gutenberg

Go, reaper, Speed and reap, Go take the harvest Of the plough: The wheat is standing Broad and deep, The barley glumes Are golden now.

From Project Gutenberg

The flowering glume has generally a more or less boat-shaped form, is of firm consistence, and possesses a well-marked central midrib and frequently several lateral ones.

From Project Gutenberg

Chaff, small membranous scales or bracts on the receptacle of Composit�; the glumes, &c., of grasses.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• chaff
• pod
• rind