Triticum aestivum compactum - (Host.)Mackey.
(Host.)Mackey.
Club Wheat
gbif· cc-by-nc
Rob Irwin
gbif· cc-by-nc
Rob Irwin
gbif· cc-by-nc
Rob Irwin
Description
Triticum aestivum compactum is a ANNUAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft). It is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to July, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
Edible Uses
Seed - cooked. It is usually ground into a flour and used as a cereal. Used in making bread, starchy breakfast foods, crackers etc, though the seed is low in gluten and so any bread will not rise that well.
Distribution
The origin is uncertain.
Where It Grows
Coming Soon
Cultivation
An easily grown plant, it prefers a sunny position in a rich well-drained soil. Succeeds in poor soils. One of the more modern species of wheat, probably developed around 8,000 years ago as a result of a cross between T. dicoccum and Aegilops squarrosa. It is still cultivated for its edible seed in S. Europe, S.W. Asia and also in S. America. This is a low-growing species with strong stiff straw. There is at least one named variety - 'Pima' is a beardless soft white wheat with an unusually compact head. It is excellent for flour tortillas. A hexaploid species.
Propagation
Seed - sow early spring or autumn in situ and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within a few days.
Other Uses
Biomass Mulch Paper Starch Thatching. The straw has many uses, as a biomass for fuel etc, for thatching, as a mulch in the garden etc. A fibre obtained from the stems is used for making paper. The stems are harvested in late summer after the seed has been harvested, they are cut into usable pieces and soaked in clear water for 24 hours. They are then cooked for 2 hours in lye or soda ash and then beaten in a ball mill for 1½ hours in a ball mill. The fibres make a green-tan paper. The starch from the seed is used for laundering, sizing textiles etc. It can also be converted to alcohol for use as a fuel.
