paleas

A palea is a small, leaf-like bract that subtends the flower of a grass (family Poaceae). Typically, there are two paleas per flower, located on the outer side of the ovary and enclosing the stamens and pistil. They are often thinner and less conspicuous than the similarly positioned lemma, which is the other bract subtending the grass flower. The palea can vary in size, shape, and texture depending on the grass species. In some grasses, the paleas are reduced to mere scales or are entirely absent, while in others they are more developed. The structure and presence of paleas can be important characteristics used in grass identification. Together, the lemma and palea are referred to as the glumes when they are at the base of the inflorescence, or as the flowering glumes when they subtend individual flowers within a spikelet. However, in grasses, the terms lemma and palea are specifically used for the bracts directly subtending the grass floret, whereas glumes are typically sterile bracts found at the base of the spikelet. The palea plays a role in protecting the reproductive organs of the grass flower and can also contribute to seed dispersal by aiding in the attachment of the floret to the inflorescence or to passing animals.