Spelt Wheat

Triticum aestivum spelta

Physical Characteristics

Triticum aestivum spelta is a ANNUAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). 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.

Distribution

Original habitat is obscure.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed Edible Uses: Seed - cooked[57, 61, 105]. It is usually ground into a flour and used as a cereal for making bread, biscuits etc. Pasta made from this grain has a delicious nutty flavour[183]. The seed retains its glumes when threshed[46].

Medicinal Uses

None known

Known Hazards

None known