spikelet

[Richard Jensen]

I'll go ount on a limb and suggest that spikelets in Cyperaceae and Poaceae are
not homologous.  That doesn't mean you can't use the word spikelet for
describing the inflorescences of each family.  If we restrict our usages to
only allowing a term to refere to homologous structures (here I am using
homology in an evolutionary sense), then we will have to give up using a wide
variety of terms.  For example, are the "true" berries (e.g., grapes, tomatoes,
kiwis, star-fruits, etc.) homologous?  I suspect not.  Berry is a useful term
(although I know of no universally accepted definition of exactly what a berry
is) for describing the physical structure of a fruit.   Spikelet fall in the
same category.

Dick

Nick Wouters wrote:

> I'am working in the field of the Cyperaceae.  Is it allowed to use the term
> spikelet for the cyperaceae .  Because it is not certain that the spikelet
> of the poaceae and the cyperaceae are homologe.
> thx
> nick
>
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--
Richard J. Jensen              | tel: 574-284-4674
Department of Biology      | fax: 574-284-4716
Saint Mary's College         | e-mail: rjensen at saintmarys.edu
Notre Dame, IN 46556    | http://www.saintmarys.edu/~rjensen