Bract flower-subtending

Inflorescence subtended by a spathaceous bract or with spathaceous bracts flowers small, inconspicuous ovary superior, usually syncarpous. 

On the inflorescence axis (l-)2-3-flowered heads are formed in a spiral (Fig ll.lA-B, Fig 11.2A). The flowers are formed in a quick succession on a short roundish peduncle (Fig 11.2A-B) and flower subtending bracts are either formed or missing (Fig 11.2A-F). No flower preceding bracteoles are formed. Multicellular and club-shaped hairs are rarely found at the base of the floral heads (Fig 11.2E) and in groups between the individual flowers (Fig 11.2F,G). 

Inflorescence not subtended by spathaceous bracts and not with spathaceous bracts, or if with spathaceous bracts then the flowers conspicuous. 

Flowers not in umbels or heads subtended by spathaceous bracts. 

Palea One of the chaffy scales on the receptacle subtending the disk flowers in many composite plants or the upper bract, which, with the lemma, encloses the flower in grasses. 

Involucre of Bracts A whorl or rosette of bracts subtending or supporting a flower cluster or fruit. 

II. Order Principles.—Palmew or Palm Family.—Tropical or subtropical shrubs, rarely trees, having unbranched trunks which are terminated by a crown of leaves, in the axils of which the flowers are produced. The leaves are well developed with pinnate or palmate blades and a fibrous sheathed clasping petiole. The flowers are small, of one or two sexes, and crowded on a spike or spadix, which is subtended by a large bract, or spathe which may become woody, as in the Cocoanut Palm. The perianth consists of 6 parts in 2 whorls (3 sepals and 3 petals) or it may be inconspicuous or absent. The stamens are 6 in number, rarely 3, inserted below the ovary. The ovary is superior, of 3 cells, with central placenta. The fruit is either a nut, with leathery epicarp, fibrous or cellular mesocarp and thin membranous endocarp, or a drupe (Cocoanut) with leathery epicarp, broadly fibrous mesocarp and stony endocarp, or a berry as in the Date Palm, Phoenix, with membranous epicarp, succulent mesocarp and soft succulent endocarp. The seeds are albuminous with the reserve food frequently in the form of hard cellulose (ivory-nut-palm). 

Staminate flowers in elongated catkins, each consisting of two to eight stamens inserted on the torus-like base of the oval to oval-lanceolate bracts of the catkin, usually subtended by two or fohr or rarely by numerous bracteoles filaments short or elongated. 

In volucre.—A whorl (or whorls) of bracts subtending a flower or flower cluster. 

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