Palea is a term typically used to describe the inner scale of a grass spikelet. However, there are several synonym words that can be used interchangeably with this term. One of them is "lemma," which describes the outer bract of the spikelet that encloses the floret. Another synonym for palea is "chaff," which refers to the husk of a grain or seed. Additionally, "glume" can also mean the same as palea. It's a term that describes the bracts surrounding the florets in grasses. These synonyms are especially useful when communicating scientific or botanical terms, where precision and accuracy are crucial.