"Broom-sedge (Andropogon Virginicus). a, spike; b, spikelet; c, glumes." -Whitney, 1911

Broomsedge

"Broom-sedge (Andropogon Virginicus). a, spike; b, spikelet; c, glumes." -Whitney, 1911

This canopy is made out of carved wood in a design of spikes, leaf scrolls and two birds at the base. It is used as an overhead roof structure to provide shade or shelter.

Canopy

This canopy is made out of carved wood in a design of spikes, leaf scrolls and two birds at the base.…

"The catkin of a willow, a type of spike."—Finley, 1917

Willow catkin

"The catkin of a willow, a type of spike."—Finley, 1917

"They are usually made in sections of manageable length chained together at the ends." — Moss, 1914

Cheveaux de frise

"They are usually made in sections of manageable length chained together at the ends." — Moss,…

An illustration of a cocoanut palm's flower.

Cocoanut Palm Flower

An illustration of a cocoanut palm's flower.

An illustration of a cocoanut palm's spadix. In botany, a spadix (pl. spadices) is a type of spike: an inflorescence with small flowers crowded on a thickened, fleshy axis. The term is applied to certain monocotyledons, especially members of the Family Araceae called arums or aroids. In these flower heads there is typically also a spathe (from Ancient Greek spathe "broad blade") present: a large, usually showy and solitary, bract that either subtends (lies just below) or partially encloses the spadix. The "flower" of the anthurium is a typical spadix with a large colorful spathe.

Cocoanut Palm Spadix

An illustration of a cocoanut palm's spadix. In botany, a spadix (pl. spadices) is a type of spike:…

Cork material is an impermeable, buoyant material, a prime-subset of generic cork tissue that is harvested for commercial use primarily from Quercus suber that is endemic to southwest Europe and northwest Africa. Cork is composed of suberin, a hydrophobic substance, and because of its impermeability, buoyancy, elasticity, and fire resistance, it is used in a variety of products, the most common of which is for wine stoppers.

Cork Bottle Stopper

Cork material is an impermeable, buoyant material, a prime-subset of generic cork tissue that is harvested…

A female sorrel flower spike.

Sorrel flower

A female sorrel flower spike.

"1. a portion of the spike of Salicornia herbacea, with the flowers lodged in the notches of the axis; 2. a flower separate." -Lindley, 1853

Glasswort

"1. a portion of the spike of Salicornia herbacea, with the flowers lodged in the notches of the axis;…

Fiinger-spiked Wood Grass (Andropogon furcatus) grows about four feet high. The leaves are smooth, the spikes digitate, or generly by threes and fours. The lower flowers are awnless and the spikelets roughis, and downy with the awn bent. This a spikelet seen here.

Finger-spiked Wood Grass

Fiinger-spiked Wood Grass (Andropogon furcatus) grows about four feet high. The leaves are smooth, the…

Fiinger-spiked Wood Grass (Andropogon furcatus) grows about four feet high. The leaves are smooth, the spikes digitate, or generly by threes and fours. The lower flowers are awnless and the spikelets roughis, and downy with the awn bent. An enlarged part of the spikelet is shown here in more detail.

Finger-spiked Wood Grass

Fiinger-spiked Wood Grass (Andropogon furcatus) grows about four feet high. The leaves are smooth, the…

Fiinger-spiked Wood Grass (Andropogon furcatus) grows about four feet high. The leaves are smooth, the spikes digitate, or generly by threes and fours. The lower flowers are awnless and the spikelets roughis, and downy with the awn bent. An enlarged part of the spikelet is shown here in more detail.

Finger-spiked Wood Grass

Fiinger-spiked Wood Grass (Andropogon furcatus) grows about four feet high. The leaves are smooth, the…

Fiinger-spiked Wood Grass (Andropogon furcatus) grows about four feet high. The leaves are smooth, the spikes digitate, or generly by threes and fours. The lower flowers are awnless and the spikelets roughis, and downy with the awn bent. A glume, seen here, is one of the two chaffy bracts at the base of a grass spikelet.

Finger-spiked Wood Grass

Fiinger-spiked Wood Grass (Andropogon furcatus) grows about four feet high. The leaves are smooth, the…

"Equisetum sylvaticum: a, a, sheath crowned with teeth; b, branches; c, c, fruiting spikes. 2. Clypeola, bearing sporangia. 3. Spore, with elaters coiled about it." -Whitney, 1911

Wood Horsetail

"Equisetum sylvaticum: a, a, sheath crowned with teeth; b, branches; c, c, fruiting spikes. 2. Clypeola,…

"Diagrams of inflorescence. A, panicle; B, raceme; C, spike; D, head; E, umbel." -Bergen, 1896

Inflorescence

"Diagrams of inflorescence. A, panicle; B, raceme; C, spike; D, head; E, umbel." -Bergen, 1896

<i>Plantago major</i>. "...a flower cluster or form of inflorescence in which the flowers are sessile (or apparently so) along an elongated, unbranched common axis, as in the well-known mullen and plantain." &mdash;Whitney, 1889
<p>Illustration of a spike from a Broadleaf Plantain.

Broadleaf Plantain - Spike

Plantago major. "...a flower cluster or form of inflorescence in which the flowers are sessile (or apparently…

A variety of leaves with scales: "a, the scale-like leaves of the stem of Lathraea squamaria (toothwort); b, the cone with the scales of Cupressus sempervirens (Mediterranean Cypress); c, the imbricate scale-like bract of the spike of Cyperus longus (common galingale)." -Whitney, 1911

Scaled Leaves

A variety of leaves with scales: "a, the scale-like leaves of the stem of Lathraea squamaria (toothwort);…

"Have a large air-bladder, which they inflate by swallowing air, till they appear almost like balls. They are also covered with spines which they erect at will." &mdash; Goodrich, 1859

Sea Porcupine

"Have a large air-bladder, which they inflate by swallowing air, till they appear almost like balls.…

"Side-oats (Atheropogon curtipendulus). a, spike; b, spikelet; c, spikelet with glumes removed." -Whitney, 1911

Side Oats

"Side-oats (Atheropogon curtipendulus). a, spike; b, spikelet; c, spikelet with glumes removed." -Whitney,…

Showing the spike of an arum, a spadix.

Arum spadix

Showing the spike of an arum, a spadix.

A spike arrangement of flowers.

Spike

A spike arrangement of flowers.

"An apparatus for extracting spikes, as from a rail. a, rail; b, spike to be extracted; c, fulcrum-piece hooked over the rail and supported on the sleeper d; e, claw-lever, with a heel shown in dotted outline, which is passed through a slot in the fulcrum-piece." —Whitney, 1889

Spike Extractor

"An apparatus for extracting spikes, as from a rail. a, rail; b, spike to be extracted; c, fulcrum-piece…

"A large nail or pin, generally of iron. The larger forms of spikes, particularly railroad spikes, are chisel-pointed, and have a head or fang projecting to one side to bite the rail. Spikes are also made split, barbed, grooved, and of other shapes." &mdash;Whitney, 1889
<p>Illustration of a barbed spike.

Barbed Spike

"A large nail or pin, generally of iron. The larger forms of spikes, particularly railroad spikes, are…

"A large nail or pin, generally of iron. The larger forms of spikes, particularly railroad spikes, are chisel-pointed, and have a head or fang projecting to one side to bite the rail. Spikes are also made split, barbed, grooved, and of other shapes." &mdash;Whitney, 1889
<p>Illustration of a spike that is both barbed and forked.

Barbed and Forked Spike

"A large nail or pin, generally of iron. The larger forms of spikes, particularly railroad spikes, are…

"A large nail or pin, generally of iron. The larger forms of spikes, particularly railroad spikes, are chisel-pointed, and have a head or fang projecting to one side to bite the rail. Spikes are also made split, barbed, grooved, and of other shapes." &mdash;Whitney, 1889
<p>Illustration of cut spike, also called a large cut nail.

Cut Spike

"A large nail or pin, generally of iron. The larger forms of spikes, particularly railroad spikes, are…

"A large nail or pin, generally of iron. The larger forms of spikes, particularly railroad spikes, are chisel-pointed, and have a head or fang projecting to one side to bite the rail. Spikes are also made split, barbed, grooved, and of other shapes." &mdash;Whitney, 1889
<p>Illustration of a dock spike, used in building docks and piers.

Dock Spike

"A large nail or pin, generally of iron. The larger forms of spikes, particularly railroad spikes, are…

A plantain spike.

Plantain spike

A plantain spike.

"A large nail or pin, generally of iron. The larger forms of spikes, particularly railroad spikes, are chisel-pointed, and have a head or fang projecting to one side to bite the rail. Spikes are also made split, barbed, grooved, and of other shapes." &mdash;Whitney, 1889
<p>Illustration of two forked spikes. When driven into wood, the points spread and hook into the wood.

Forked Spikes

"A large nail or pin, generally of iron. The larger forms of spikes, particularly railroad spikes, are…

The strobilus (spike) of a hop plant.

Hop strobilus

The strobilus (spike) of a hop plant.

This table is intended for use in a drawing room. It is made out of wood with four carved legs that are connected to a spike in the center.

Table

This table is intended for use in a drawing room. It is made out of wood with four carved legs that…