COMMON BREAD WHEAT 289 



Ear beardless ; glumes white, glabrous ; grain white. 



T. vulgare albidum, Korn. Handb. d. Getr. i. 45 (1885). 



A widely distributed variety, much more numerous in its forms than the 

 corresponding bearded variety graecum. About 150 examples were collected 

 from England, France, Germany, Holland, Russia, South Africa, Persia, India, 

 Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. 



They are most commonly cultivated at the present time in dry warm climates, 

 the grain of those from Australia being especially well developed and of a fine 

 white tint. 



With the exception of some of the Squarehead type of ear, forms of this 

 variety are rarely grown in Britain or the countries of Western Europe. Like 

 all white-grained wheats, they are extremely liable to sprout in the ear when 

 cut and left in the field in a damp season. 



1. Gentile bianco. An early form received from Italy. It comes into ear 

 at Reading about the end of May. 



Young shoots, erect. 



Straw, slender, tall, 120-128 cm. (48-50 inches) high. 



Ear, lax, 10 cm. long ; upper spikelets with awns - 5-'7 cm. long ; spikelets 

 20 ; = 19-20 (Ear type 2, Fig. 177). 



Empty glume, 9-10 mm. long, apex truncate, apical tooth blunt, -5-1 mm. 

 long (2, Fig. 1 66). 



Grain, large, semi-flinty, 7-3 mm. long, 3-65 mm. broad, 3-45 mm. thick. 



Closely similar is Napoles from Spain and a form from Chili. 



2. An early form, coming into ear May 20-26 at Reading ; received from 

 the Central Provinces and United Provinces, India. 



Young shoots, erect. 



Straw, slender, short to medium, height 75-95 cm. (30-36 inches) long. 

 Ear, lax, 9-10 cm. long, with awns 5-7 mm. long ; spikelets 19-21 ; D = 

 20-23. 



Empty glume, 9 mm. long ; apical tooth blunt, -5 mm. long. 



Grain, semi-flinty, large, plump ; 7 mm. long, 3-9 mm. broad, 3-75 mm. thick. 



A similar form was received from Australia. 



3. G-andum-i-Kaiseh. An early form ; received from Persia. It comes into 

 ear at Reading about May 20. 



Young shoots, erect. 



Ear, erect, 9 cm. long, with awns -5-1 cm. long; spikelets 19; D=22 

 (Ear type 2, Fig. 178). 



Empty glume, 8 mm. long, keeled to base, broad, apex with incurved claw- 

 like tooth, 2 mm. long (i, Fig. 166). 



Grain, large, semi-flinty, plump ; 7-2 mm. long, 3-5 mm. broad, 3-55 mm. 

 thick. 



4. Epp. A mid-season variety received from Germany. 

 Young shoots, prostrate. 



Straw, very tall, 142 cm. (about 56 inches) high. 



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