Glume

A glume is a phytomorphological term used in botany referring to a part of the inflorescence of grasses (Poaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae).

Glumes are bracts subtending the flowers of a sedge or the spikelets of a grass.

In grasses, two bracts known as "glumes" form the lowermost organs of a spikelet (there are usually 2 but 1 is sometimes reduced; or rarely, both are absent). Glumes may be may be similar in form to the lemmas, the bracts at the base of each floret.

In sedges, by contrast, a glume is a scale at the base of each flower in a spikelet.