5i8 CULTIVATED WHEATS 



Species II. Polish Wheat (Triticum Polonicum L.) (Z>, Fig. 

 167). — This species has long ears of glaucous tint when unripe 

 and is readily distinguished from all others by its empty glumes, 

 which are often an inch long and enclose all the flowers in the 

 spikelet. 



The flowering glumes are awned and each spikelet contains 

 four flowers, only two of which are usually fertile. 



The 'grain' is f of an inch long and narrow, of reddish 

 colour, flinty, hard and transparent. 



The straw is almost solid. 



It is chiefly grown in Spain, Italy, and Eastern Europe. 



The yield is too small and the plant too tender for cultivation 

 in this country. 



Species III. Triticuvi sativum Lam. — To this species belong 

 three fairly distinct races of wheats, namely : — 



Race I. Ordinary Spelt Wheats [Dinkel in Germany] {T. 

 sativum Spelta= Triticum Spelta L.). — The varieties of this race 

 have ears with spikelets placed rather widely apart {C, Fig. 167) ; 

 the glumes may be white, red, or other colours, smooth or 

 velvety, and in some varieties the flowering glumes are awned, 

 while in others they are without awns. 



The spikelets ripen two or three grains, which are triangular 

 in section. 



This race of wheat was the commonly cultivated grain of the 

 earliest times, and is still cultivated on poor soils in .Switzerland, 

 S. Germany, and Spain. The yield is from 35 to 50 bushels 

 spelt grain per acre. 



Race II. Two-grained Spelt Wheats: 'Starch Wheat' 

 [Emmer in Germany] (7! sativum dicoccum= Triticum dicoccum 

 Schr. = T. amyleum). — This race differs from the previous one 

 in the possession of denser ears ; the spikelets are much closer 

 together on the rachis {B, Fig. 167); each spikelet ripens 

 only two grains, and' the flowering glumes always have long 

 awns. 



