Grass family
Gramineae
Trit'i-kum. Wheat . About 30 species of annual or biennial grasses, allied to Secale (Rye) and Agropyron, which includes Quackgrass. The species below cultivated since antiquity. W. Asia. Next to Rice, the most important cereal grass in the world.
Description
Leaf blades flat and narrow. Flowers in relatively stout spikelike panicle, the spikelets crowded, awned in some varieties, but without awn in others. Fruit, the Wheat grain, grooved.
How to Grow
In warm climates, plant in fall; elsewhere, in early spring. Work up the soil and lay down a 2-3 ft. (60-90 cm) square of clear plastic. Secure the edges with soil. Cut a 6-in. (15-cm) cross in center, and plant seeds where they can grow through the slits. Cover plastic with dried grass clippings to shade out weeds. Prefers warm weather.
Triticum aestivum
Wheat
. To 4 ft. (1.5 m) high. Leaf blades flat, to 4 in. (10 cm) long. W. Asia. Includes both common winter and spring wheats. There are many other varieties for special agricultural purposes. Hardy annual.
