noun
- Plural of palea; small, chaffy scales or bracts found in grasses and other plants, typically located on the flower or seed head.
Usage: botanical term; plural form
Examples
- The paleae of the grass florets protect the developing seeds.
- Botanists examined the paleae under a microscope to identify the species.
- The delicate paleae give the grain head its characteristic appearance.
- Each floret is enclosed by two paleae that fall away at maturity.