A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Lodicule, paired, rudimentary scales below the ovary of a grass flower representing the reduced perianth; the lodiculae, “the hypogynous scales of Grasses” (Lindley); “a small scale outside the stamens in the flower of grasses; glumella” (Jackson); “one of the small scales or processes in the base of the flower of a grass” (Fernald 1950); “one of the two (rarely) three) delicate membranous hyaline scales at the base of the ovary which by their swelling assist in anthesis” (WIII): lodicula,-ae (s.f.I), abl. pl. lodiculis, lit. 'a small blanket, coverlet' [> L. dim. ‘coverlet’ of lodix,-dicis s.f.III, a cover]; = glumella, -ae (s.f.I), abl. pl. glumellis [> L. gluma s.f.I]; see squamula,-ae (s.f.I); also called the paleola,-ae (s.f.I); see glumella,-ae (s.f.I);

- lodiculae duae hyalinae truncatae vel bilobatae glabrae, 1-3 mm longae, lodicules 2 hyaline truncate or 2-lobed glabrous 1-3 mm long (Stearn).

- palea 0, lodiculis 4 (v. palea 2-partita lodiculis 2 ) (B&H), palea 0, with the lodicules 4 ( or palea 2-parted with lodicules 2).

- lodiculae saepissime 3, majusculae (B&H), with the lodicules most often three, somewhat large.

- lodiculae desunt in Dinochloa, valde irregulares in Ochlandra (B&H), the lodules absent in Dinochloa, strongly irregular in Ochlandra.

- lodiculae 0, sed discus circa genitalia pilis rufis fimbriatus (B&H), lodicules 0, but the disc around the sexual organs friged with red hairs.

- lodiculae floris feminei ex Doell 5, in floribus a nobis examinatis 3 vidimus majusculas quarum 2 plus minus connatae (B&H), the lodicules of the female flowers according to Doell are 5, in the flowers examined by us, we see three the somewhat larger of which are two, more or less fused.

- lodiculae variant connatae v. liberae (B&H), the lodicules vary, fused or free.

- lodiculae tenues, distinctae (B&H), the lodicules thin, distinct [i.e. separate].

- F. ampliflora, Doell in Mart. Fl. Bras. ii. iii. t. 34, e Brasilia (quae eadem videtur ac F. amplissima, Rupr. e Mexico) ab auctore pro sectione sub nomine Mallopetali distinguitur ob lodiculas apice villosas, sed lodiculas apice pariter pilis longis fimbriatas invenimus in F. fimbriata, Nées, quam Doell in Festucis legitimis lodiculis glabris collocat (B&H), F. ampliflora, Doell in Mart. Fl. Bras. ii. iii. t. 34, from Brasilia (which seem the same as F. amplissima, Rupr. from Mexico) are distinguished by the author for a section under the name Mallopetali, because the lodicules are villous at the apex, but we find the lodicules at the apex fimbriate with equally long hairs in F. fimbriata, Nees, which Doell places into genuine Festucae with glabrous lodicules.

- [Gramineae (B&H): saepius lodiculae 2 v. 3, squamellas parvae hyalinae v. carnosulae, quarum 2 liberae lateralesque v. pone axin a rhachilla spiculae aversae et plus minus connatae, tertia dum adsit lateralibus aequalis v. minor; more often 2 or three lodicules, small hyaline or somewhat fleshy scalets, 2 of which are free and lateral or behind the axis on the other side from the rhachilla of the spikelet, and more or less fused, as long as a third is present it is equal to the lateral ones or smaller.

Paleola,-ae (s.f.I): “(obsol.) the hypogynous [i.e. inserted beneath the pistil] scales of Grasses” (Lindley); “a diminutive of ‘palea,’ or of secondary order, applied to the lodicule of grasses” (Jackson).

paleolatus,-a,-um (adj.A): provided with paleolae; “furnished with a lodicule” (Jackson).

tripaleolatus,-a,-um (adj.A): “consisting of three paleae, as the flower of a Bamboo” (Lindley).

Periphyllium,-ii (s.n.II), abl. sg. periphyllio, nom. & acc. pl. periphyllia: a periphyll: “(obsol.) the hypogynous scales of Grasses” (Lindley); the hypogynous scales or lodicules of grasses” (Jackson) [> Gk. peri, ‘about’ + phyllon, a leaf].

Squamella,-ae (s.f.I), q.v.: = lodicule (Jackson).

Squamellia,-ae (s.f.I), abl.sg. squamellia; squamellula,-ae (s.f.I), abl.sg. squamellula: a little scale, lodicule (in Gramineae), subdivision of pappus (in Compositae).

NOTE: glumellula,-ae (s.f.I): a glumellule, [“obsol.] “The hypogynous scale in the flower of a Grass” (Lindley); “1. = palea; 2. = lodicule” (Jackson).

NOTE: "At the base of the flower, between lemma and palea usually 2 ...mostly insignificant processes or scales, the lodicules, representing a reduced perianth (becoming distended as the pollen and stigmas mature and by pressure throwing open the floret, usually at specific periods, then on drying allowing the lemma and glumes to close over and protect the developing fruit)" (Fernald 1950). The lodicules appear to be above, not between, the palea-lemma group in some illustrations.