Triticum

HABIT Annual. Culms erect (1/2), or geniculately ascending (1/2); 30–88.88–160 cm long. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single; linear (13), or oblong (5), or ovate (1); bilateral; bearing 19–23 fertile spikelets on each (1/1). Rhachis tough (9), or fragile at the nodes (8); flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded (3), or contiguous (14), or lax (2). Rhachis internodes indefinite (1), or oblong (14), or clavate (1), or cuneate (1); falling with spikelet alongside (1/8), or falling with spikelet above (7/8).

Spikelets ascending (5/5); solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets (3), or 2 fertile florets (14), or 3 fertile florets (7), or 4 fertile florets (5), or 5 fertile florets (2), or 6 fertile florets (1); without rhachilla extension (1), or with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong (14), or ovate (4); laterally compressed; 7–13.25–30 mm long; persistent on plant (9), or falling entire (8); deciduous with accessory branch structures (8/8). Spikelet callus pilose (1/1). Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus pubescent (1/1).

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet (15), or reaching apex of florets (1), or exceeding apex of florets (1). Lower glume lanceolate (3), or elliptic (1), or oblong (8), or ovate (6); 1–1.012–1.2 length of upper glume; membranous (1), or coriaceous (16); 1-keeled (4), or 2-keeled (13); wingless (14), or winged on keel (3); 3–4 -veined (1/16), or 5 -veined (16/16), or 6–7 -veined (15/16), or 8–9 -veined (14/16). Lower glume lateral veins distinct (16), or prominent (1). Lower glume surface without pits; glabrous (14), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (7), or pilose (3), or villous (1). Lower glume apex entire (3), or with a unilateral tooth (9), or dentate (5); 2 -fid (5/5); emarginate (1/9), or truncate (6/9), or acute (2/9); muticous (16), or awned (3). Upper glume lanceolate (2), or elliptic (1), or oblong (9), or ovate (6); 0.5–0.9033–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous (1), or coriaceous (16); 1-keeled (4), or 2-keeled (13); wingless (15), or winged on keel (2); 3–4 -veined (1/16), or 5 -veined (16/16), or 6–7 -veined (15/16), or 8–9 -veined (14/16). Upper glume lateral veins divergent at apex. Upper glume surface glabrous (14), or pubescent (9), or pilose (2), or villous (1). Upper glume apex entire (2), or with a unilateral tooth (9), or dentate (6); 2 -fid (6/6); emarginate (1/8), or truncate (6/8), or acute (1/8); muticous (16), or awned (3); 1 -awned (3/3).

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic (13), or ovate (4); membranous (1), or chartaceous (3), or coriaceous (13); without keel (10), or keeled (7); wingless; 5 -veined (5/15), or 6–8 -veined (4/15), or 9 -veined (14/15), or 10–11 -veined (10/15), or 12–15 -veined (1/15). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (14), or pubescent (3). Lemma apex entire (13), or dentate (4); 2 -fid (4/4); acute (7/7); muticous (3), or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn apical (15), or from a sinus (2). Palea embraced by lemma (16), or readily splitting down midline (1); membranous (16), or coriaceous (1); 2 -veined. Palea keels wingless (13), or winged (4); eciliate (3), or ciliolate (14). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped; 1 in number (4/5), or 2 in number (2/5), or 3 in number (1/5).

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary with a fleshy appendage below style insertion; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid (4/7), or oblong (2/7), or ovoid (1/7), or orbicular (1/7). Embryo 0.2–0.25–0.3 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Europe (9), or Africa (9), or Temperate Asia (16), or Tropical Asia (6), or Australasia (1), or Pacific (1), or North America (1), or South America (2).

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.