322 



THE WHEAT PLANT 



and 31-5 cm. respectively. Below the ear the straw is frequently bent in 

 a sinuous fashion. 



The culm leaf-blades are somewhat rigid, comparatively short, 10-16 

 cm. long, and 1-2-1-5 cm. broad, tapering quickly towards the tip, their 

 upper surfaces scabrid with a few coarse hairs on the ribs. The auricles 

 are long, narrow, and fringed with a few hairs. 



The ears are short, generally measuring 4-6 cm. (about ii-2^ inches) 

 in length, with 14 to 20 spikelets ; density usually =38-42. 



Along the edges of the rachis is a fringe of white hairs -25 to -5 mm. 

 long, which also extends across the front of the rachis at the base of each 

 spikelet. 



ttl 







* I 



FIG. 202. Empty glumes of Indian 

 Dwarf wheat (T. sphaerococcum) 



(X2). 



FIG. 203. Grains of 

 Indian Dwarf wheat 

 (T. sphaerococcum), 

 front, back, and side 

 views (nat. size). 



t f 



FIG. 204. Grains of 

 the spikelets of one 

 side of an ear of 

 Indian Dwarf wheat 

 (T. sphaerococcum} 

 (nat. size). 



The spikelets are about 10 mm. long, 10 mm. across, 

 and 4 mm. thick, often with 6 or 7 flowers, 4 or 5 of 

 which may produce grain. 



The empty glumes, which have an inflated appear- 

 ance, are 8-9 mm. long and 4 or 5 mm. across the outer 

 half. They possess 6 or 7 nerves, and are generally 

 keeled in the upper part only, though in some forms 

 the midrib is somewhat prominent below. At the 

 apex is a broad curved scabrid tooth (Fig. 202). 



The flowering glume is inflated, 9-nerved, and rounded on the back ; 

 in the beardless varieties the tip terminates in a short awn 3 or 4 mm. 

 long, the bearded forms possessing very stiff awns 1-5 to 2 cm. long, 

 which are frequently bent in a sinuous manner near the base and in ripe 

 ears spread outwards irregularly. 



The palea is 7-8 mm. long, fringed with hairs along the two keels. 



The grains are of very characteristic form, being shorter and rounder 

 than those of other wheats (Figs. 203, 204). They are often somewhat 

 angular and unsymmetrical on account of pressure of the glumes. 



