Spikelets of Johnson Grass and Sudan Grass

1. In both spikelets of both grasses the vascularization is essentially the same. The nerves to the right and left of the midrib in every bract are attached below the midrib of that bract. All the bundles to one bract are attached below and on the opposite side of the rachis from any of those to the next higher bract. 2. Meristematic tissue of a first flower and a rudimentary bundle to it establish the fundamental two-flowered condition in both spikelets of both grasses. This is consistent with the now generally accepted opinion as to the nature of this spikelet. It is also consistent with the structure of the spikelet in the Paniceae, where both the lemma and palea of the lower floret are present, and a staminate or even a perfect lower flower is sometimes present; and in the Tripsaceae, where the same condition has been established. 3. The rudimentary midrib to the third bract and embryonic tissue above it establish the fact that the third bract is a lemma of a lower flower. 4. The aborted pistil suggests that the pedicelled spikelets of both grasses once had a perfect flower. 5. Some of the spikelets of Sudan grass have a partly developed adaxial lodicule; in the others this lodicule is represented by a rudimentary bundle. 6. Observations on the lodicules of Sudan grass seem to indicate that they are members of a perianth, all three of which are present in a few cases.