Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
The starch-rich seeds of the grass family
Overview of the grass family
CEREAL GRAINS
Triticum
spp.,
Secale cereale, Avena sativa, Hordeum vulgare
When someone says “wheat,” one usually thinks of common wheat used for bread. Common wheat
has many cousins in the genus
Triticum
, however. Some, like spelt and durum wheat, are still grown
more or less frequently, whereas others, such as einkorn (literally, “single grain”), are now hardly cul-
tivated. Rye tolerates more extreme climatic conditions than wheat and is grown at elevations of up to
6200 ft. (1900 m), higher than any other grain in Europe. Nevertheless, many Alpine farms have
switched from growing grains to grazing livestock, which has contributed to the recent disappearance
of many Alpine heirloom grains. The Alps had been seen as a secondary center of diversity for cereals,
making this loss of genetic diversity all the more keenly felt. Many varieties could be preserved in
home gardens; they produce ears with stunning symmetry, bizarre contortions, or impressive colora-
tion and, if nothing else, make for uniquely beautiful ornamentals.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
• 10 ft.
2
(1 m
2
) of plants or a field planted to grain
• for rye: isolation
