CLASSIFICATION OF AMERICAN" WHEAT VARIETIES. 



193 



EMMER. 



Emmer is often incorrectly called " Speltz " in the United States. 

 The word emmer is German, but it has come into use in America, as 

 there is no English name for this wheat ally. Emmer may be of 

 either winter or spring habit and usually is awned. The culms often 

 are pithy within and the leaves usually are pubescent. The rachis is 

 brittle. The spikes are very dense and laterally compressed, being 

 narrow when viewed from the face of the spikelet and wide from the 

 edge view. The pedicel (joint of rachis) is short, narrow, and 

 pointed, and remains attached to the base of the spikelet which it 

 bears. The spikelets are flattened on the inner side and usually 

 contain two flowers. The kernels, which remain inclosed in the 



Fig. 76. — Outline map of the United States, showing the distribution of emmer in 1919, 

 according to the United States Census. Estimated area, 166,829 acres. Each dot 

 represents 100 acres or less, per county. 



g, and slender with both ends 



glumes after thrashing, are red, Ion 

 acute. 



Emmer is distinguished from spelt by the shorter, denser spikes, 

 which are laterally compressed. The pedicel of emmer is shorter 

 and narrower and is usually attached to the base of the spikelet 

 which it bears, while in spelt the pedicel remains attached to the 

 face of the next lower spikelet. The inner side of the spikelet is 

 flat instead of arched, and the kernel usually is of a darker red color 

 than that of spelt. 



Practically all of the emmer grown in the United States is used as 

 feed for live stock. Some winter emmer, however, is used in the 

 manufacture of breakfast food. The distribution of emmer in 1919 

 is shown in Figure 76. 



95539°— 22— Bull. 1074 13 



