glume
/ɡluːm/
noun
- A small, dry, scale-like leaf or bract at the base of a grass or cereal flower spikelet.
- The botanist examined the glume under a microscope to identify the grass species.
- Farmers sometimes check the color of the glume to judge the ripeness of the grain.
- Each spikelet of wheat is protected by two glumes at its base.