CLASSIFICATION OF AMERICAN WHEAT VARIETIES, 51 
hollow, but occasionally is pithy within, and varies in strength and 
height. The blades of the leaves are usually narrower than those of 
the durum and poulard wheats. The kernels may be either soft or 
hard. | 
The greatest economic characteristic of common wheat is its well- 
known quality for bread making, as it excels all the other divisions 
in this important factor. It is also the best known and most widely 
cultivated of all the divisions and comprises more than four-fifths 
of the total number of varieties grown in the United States. More 
than 180 are distinguished by the following key. The varieties are 
most nearly related to the club wheats (7'riticum compactum), but 
this separation of Host (1/9) is here used principally because of the 
ereater density of the spike. 
Common wheat is widely adapted to varying climatic conditions 
and possesses more diverse characteristics than any of the other 
divisions. The cultivated varieties are distinguished by the accom- 
panying key. | : 
KEY TO THE VARIETIES OF COMMON WHEAT. 
la. SPIKE AWNLESS. 
2a. GLUMES GLABROUS. 
3a. GLUMES WHITE 
4a. KERNELS WHITE ( Triticwm vulgare albidum Al.). 
KERNELS SHORT TO MIDLONG. 
KERNELS SOFT TO SEMIHARD. 
WINTER HABIT. 
Spike fusiform. Page. 
Plant midtall; spike dense, erect ......-. WINTER BLUESTEM......-. 58 
Plant tall; spikelax, nodding...-... OPIN DING AD ONG as ere te one tis ON es 58 
Spike oblong. 
Spike erect. 
Keel straight above. 
Shoulders narrow, oblique to 
SQUATCH ee ame e Ne meee PROHIBITION eee ene eee 59 
Shoulders wide, square to ele- 
WLC a cca laisse ate cyrccrk eet (CAM OIOINS Gadobosoecasucuse 60 
Keel incurved above. 
Spike blunt at apex........-... WHITE WINTER. .......-.. 60 
Spike tapering at apex......... CHATUENGE 252 eta: ee 60 
Spike sometimes slightly cla- 
VLG RB RECUR aitiataretrel eicte ATO Nice Aes Gers errs ae 61 
Spikeinclined to nodding.............. WHITE WONDER..........- 61 
Spikeiclavaterecessce neces Goes cae wat ose SATISRACTION sch es oceeeeee 61 
SPRING HABIT. 
Spike fusiform 
Plant early, short. 
Apical awns wanting.......... a ARDYODERIANCH ee aoe sce 62 
Apical awns several, 2-15mm. long.COLORADO No. 50....-...--- 62 
Plant midseason, midtall. 
Apical awns wanting......-........ TOUSH we ese we csaissce roe 62 
Apical awns few, straight....-..... WDEERTAN OBis Seco eo elceieisierens 63 
Apical awns many, incurved......-. IEGIN Kea ete eicclter neve lsieareie ute = 64 
Spike oblong. 
Plantiearly, midtall i232. 22. occ ace 8 UN YEP eiseae eae ieee 64 
Plant m dseason, tall. 
Glumes yellowish.................. Paciric BLUESTEM...-.-.- ‘. 65 
Glumes Dronzestsc 5.522. c cee eae eee MEXICAN BLUESTEM....... 66 
