BRITTSH CEREALS. 35 



the great size of its glumes, which are frequently an inch in length 

 enclosing all the four florets of the spikelet, two of which are 

 generally sterile. 



Both these Wheats are of little importance compared with 

 T. sativum, in which the glumes are shorter than the paleae. 

 Its culture is of great antiquity. Two of its varieties, Dwarf 

 Wheat, T. compactum, and Starch Wheat, T. dicoccum, were 

 stored in the Swiss lake dwellings. Grains of the main species 

 have been found in the Egyptian pyramids, and T. spelta was 

 the chief cereal of Egypt and Greece. 



To be clear as to the distinctions between the species or 

 varieties (they are all really varieties), let us put them into 

 tabular form : 



Terminal spikelet aborted. T. monococcum (One- grained 



Wheat). 

 Terminal spikelet developed. 



Glumes not shorter than outer palea. T. polonicum (Polish 



Wheat). 

 Glumes shorter than outer palea. T. sativum. 

 Rachis brittle. 



Spikes loose ; glumes broadly truncate ; keel obtuse. T. 



spelta (Spelt Wheat). 

 Spikes dense ; glumes tapering ; keel acute. T. dicoccum 

 (Two-grained Spelt). 

 Rachis tough. T. tenax. 

 Glumes keeled throughout. 



Grain pointed and compressed. T. durum (Hard 

 Wheat). 

 Grain obtuse and not compressed. 



Spike simple. T. turgidum (Rivet Wheat). 

 Spike compound. T. compositum. (Egyptian 

 Wheat). 

 Glumes keeled at apex, rounded at base. 



Plant dwarfed. Spikes quadrangular. T. compactum 



(Dwarf Wheat). 

 Plant not dwarfed. Spikes slightly compressed. T , 

 vulgare (Common Wheat). 



