| Coix lacryma-jobi |
| The grain is enclosed in a glossy, hard and bead-like sheath (sometimes called an involucre). It can be said that this special sheath takes the form of an 'urn' or shell which encloses a single female spikelet and two neuter male spikelets. A small opening on top allows a short raceme of male spikelets to be exserted out of the sheath. What you see on the outside is therefore not the actual 'grain'. Children are fond of collecting and stringing them into necklaces and bangles. |
