336 



Journal of Agricultural Research voi. xxn, no. 7 



SPECIFIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TRITICUM SATIVUM AND TRITICUM 



SPELTA 



The shape of the outer or sterile glume is an important character in the 

 dififerentiation of wheat species. The glume of the true T. sativum form 

 (fig. I , B) is, as a rule, soft, with a somewhat pointed apex. It is rarely 

 and very weakly keeled along the entire length. About 0.5 to i mm. 



A 



B 



Fig. I. — Characteristic spikelets of Triticum spelta (A) and Triticum sativum (B). Note upright and 

 tight position of the glumes of spelta and the loose, spreading habit of satiiiim. Spelta has a flat shoulder 

 (a) with two or three indentations; the shoulder of sativum (d), though varying widely, is generally not so 

 prominent. It is often rather tapering with no indentations. The base of the sterile glume of spelta (b) is 

 broad, showing firm attachment to the rachis. The glumes can not be opened without breaking them at the 

 base. In sativum the base (/) is narrow and is weakly attached to the rachis, and the glumes can be opened 

 easily. There are one or more depressions («) at the base of the glume in sativum which are not present in 

 spelta. The glume of spelta is more or less uniform in width. It is stiff and has prominent corrugations 

 (c); that of jaijVwwj is narrow at base, widens, then tapers again gradually. It is very thin and soft, and the 

 veins on the glumes are not so prominent. Sativum has a weak keel while spelta has a very strong one . 

 The Spelta spikelet usually develops only two kernels; sativum, often develops three or more. 



above the point of attachment there is a wrinkle or depression. The 

 base is rather narrow and is very weakly attached to the rachis. The 

 glume characters of the typical spelt, on the other hand, are quite 

 different (fig. i, A). The glume is stiff and thick, with a very blunt 

 apex. It is strongly keeled and has no depression above the base, 

 which is wide and firmly attached to the rachis. 



\ 



