Triticum sativum Lam. (Wheat)

Triticum sativum Lam. – (Wheat)

Herbaceous annual plant of the grass family – Gramineae– up to 1,2 m. Erect stems with cane structure (hollow in its interior except in the nodes). Leaves standing out from the nodes. Equally to the rest of the members of this family, each leaf contains a sheath that surrounds the petiole and protects the meristem or growing area and the the blade, that presents parallel nerves.

Flores in spikes. Each spike consisting of a main axis or rachis from whom the spikelets laterally spring. Spikelets consist of a main axis bearing some filaments finished by the glumes that contain the flowers until they begin to mature. Besides the glumes, the flowers are protected by other two bracts: the interior, called palea and the external one, called lemma. This last one finishes with a enlongated filament that confers the spike their feathery aspect.

Not very showy flowers without petals neither sepals. Female flowers with a single ovary from which two styles springing out, ending in two sticky feathery stigmas each one. Male flowers with three stamens golden, green or violet.

The fecundation and maturation of the ovule produces the seed, a caryopsis -type fruit.