— paleaceous /-ay"sheuhs/ , paleate /-it, -ayt'/ , adj.
/pay"lee euh/ , n. , pl. paleae /-lee ee'/ .
1. a chafflike scale or bract.
2. the scalelike, membranous organ in the flowers of grasses that is situated upon a secondary axis in the axil of the flowering glume and envelops the stamens and pistil.
[ 1745-55; palea chaff ]