Triticum spelta

Species category

Agricultural

Common name

spelt

Diagnostic characters

Planting unit

SpikeletSpikelet:
One or more florets that are subtended by a pair of bracts called glumes. Spikelets are pedicellate if located on a pedicle and sessile if attached directly to the rachis. Often spikelets with single florets have remnants of a second floret, usually a lemma.

Shape

ObovateObovate:
Inverted egg shaped with apical end the broadest.

Size

  • Length 9–12 mm 
  • Width 3–6 mm 
  • Thickness 3–4 mm 

Color

Light brown 

Texture

Reticulate with a large tuft of hair at apexApical:
The distal end of the fruit or seed away from the point of attachment or attachment scar.

Lemma

Not visible

Palea

Not visible

Other structures

Often in spikeletSpikelet:
One or more florets that are subtended by a pair of bracts called glumes. Spikelets are pedicellate if located on a pedicle and sessile if attached directly to the rachis. Often spikelets with single florets have remnants of a second floret, usually a lemma.
form with multiple floretsFloret:
A small flower in a clustered inflorescence (e.g., sunflower, grasses). In grasses, a floret consists of the lemma, palea, stamens, and pistil.
and short glumesGlume:
The pair of chaffy bracts that occur at the base of a grass spikelet, often completely enclosing it.

Identification notes

This species is regularly found in spikeletSpikelet:
One or more florets that are subtended by a pair of bracts called glumes. Spikelets are pedicellate if located on a pedicle and sessile if attached directly to the rachis. Often spikelets with single florets have remnants of a second floret, usually a lemma.
form. SpikeletSpikelet:
One or more florets that are subtended by a pair of bracts called glumes. Spikelets are pedicellate if located on a pedicle and sessile if attached directly to the rachis. Often spikelets with single florets have remnants of a second floret, usually a lemma.
has multiple floretsFloret:
A small flower in a clustered inflorescence (e.g., sunflower, grasses). In grasses, a floret consists of the lemma, palea, stamens, and pistil.
and glumesGlume:
The pair of chaffy bracts that occur at the base of a grass spikelet, often completely enclosing it.
that are shorter than the lowest floretFloret:
A small flower in a clustered inflorescence (e.g., sunflower, grasses). In grasses, a floret consists of the lemma, palea, stamens, and pistil.
. CaryopsisCaryopsis:
The single-seeded fruit or grain of the grass family (Poaceae); the fruit wall (pericarp) is united with the seed coat (testa).
has quite rough reticulations.

Noxious weed seed categories

Not listed

AOSA examination list

Included

Nomenclature

Family

Poaceae

Valid name

Triticum spelta L.

Synonyms

Triticum aestivum L. var. spelta (L.) L.H. Bailey

 Triticum aestivum  subsp.  spelta . Spikelet with multiple florets and short glumes. 
Triticum aestivum subsp. spelta. Spikelet with multiple florets and short glumes.