Wheat

Triticum

Wheat is a tall grass that grows in fields and is harvested for food! It’s an important plant for making bread and other yummy treats.

Habitat: Farms and fields

Appearance

The Wheat has slender, upright stems that ripen from green to a distinct golden-brown color. Its long, narrow leaves are topped by a dense seed head, called a spike, often adorned with bristly awns, which makes it look like a bristly brush.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderPoalesFamilyPoaceaeGenusTriticum

Wheat

Interesting facts

Durum wheat is extra hard, making it the perfect kind for yummy pastas and couscous!

Just one small kernel of wheat can be ground into enough flour to make over 9,000 tiny pieces of pasta!

The tallest wheat plant ever recorded grew over 7 feet tall, standing like a giant grass stalk!

Wheat was first farmed over 10,000 years ago, helping early humans settle down and build towns!

Special abilities

Wheat has tiny, feathery stigmas that efficiently catch pollen carried by the wind, ensuring reproduction without needing insects.

Wheat can thrive in a vast range of climates and soils, allowing it to be grown almost anywhere on Earth.

Many wheat varieties can self-pollinate, guaranteeing a reliable harvest of seeds even if no other wheat plants are nearby.

Measurements & details

Height: 60-120 cm
Bloom Season: Spring_early_summer
Is Edible: Yes
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Annual
Pollination Method: Wind

Ecological connections

eats

Human

Homo sapiens

major food source worldwide

eats

Brown Rat

Rattus norvegicus

eats stored grains and plants

eats

Granary Weevil

Sitophilus granarius

larvae and adults consume stored grains

parasitizes

Wheat Stem Rust

Puccinia graminis

fungus causes devastating disease

Traits

Grain Crop

Discover important plants grown specifically for their small, edible seeds, which are a main part of food for people around the world.

Agricultural

Discover plants and animals that are part of farming, grown or raised by people to provide food and other useful resources.

Edible

Find plants that are safe and delicious to eat, offering tasty treats and nourishment from nature's pantry. Always check with an adult before tasting!