WHEAT 



229 



Ovary superior with one chamber and one ovule and sur- 

 mounted by two (occasionally three) styles. Stems cylindrical 

 (occasionally flattened), tubular (occasionally hollow). Leaves 

 alternate, in two ranks, springing from the nodes, petioles 

 sheathing the stems. This very large family contains our grains 

 and grasses (Fig. 55). 



Wheat (Triticum vulgar e and varieties) is the well-known 



FIG. 150. Six types of wheat. Top row, durum, Polish wheat, and white winter. Bottom 

 row, red winter, hard winter, and hard spring. ("Productive Farm Crops.") 



bread plant of the temperate zones. The spikelets bearing 

 from two to many flowers are arranged in a firm spike. The 

 little flowers are arranged in two rows and protected by glumes 

 which sometimes bear awns or bristles; three stamens and two 

 plum-like stigmas. The fruits (i. e., grain enclosed in ovary 

 coats) are about one-quarter of an inch in length, oval, flattened 

 and grooved on one side. Some varieties are sowed in the early 



