Dinkel wheat, Spelt
Triticum spelta

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

An annual grass plant. It is related to wheat. It grows to 1 m high. The ears are slender, long, lax and somewhat four sided. The spikelets have 2 grains. The grains are long, pointed and flinty.

It has higher protein than wheat. Spelt is a hexaploid plant (AABBDD) having 6 sets of chromosomes from 3 different origins. Some of the earliest recordings of spelt appear in the Bible (Exodus 9:30, Isaiah 28:25, and Ezekiel 4:9)

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It needs well drained soil. It needs to be in a sunny position. It can grow on poor soils. It is often grown in areas of extreme climate. Under low temperatures and soil moisture shortage spelt can still yield well.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Europe, Finland, Germany, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Mediterranean, Middle East, North America, Scandinavia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Tasmania, USA

How it is used for food

The seed is eaten cooked. Usually it is ground into flour. It is used for cereal, bread, muffins, and cookies. It can be roasted and used as a coffee substitute.

It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Seeds, cereal

How it is grown

Seed is sown just below the soil surface as spring approaches. Seed germinate in a few days. Seeding rates of 90-112 kg/ha are recommended.

It takes 6-7 months to reach maturity and seeds ripen by 8-9 months. The spelt kernels do not thresh free of the glumes. There have been wide variations in yield (7000-1000 kg/ha), test weight (462-315 kg/m3), days to heading (154-166 days), plant height (97-140 cm), and kernel protein content (15.8-19.2%). Spelt yields are given as harvested with the kernel in the hull, and kernel yield only as estimated for a 60% kernel weight thresh out.

Its other names

Local names

Farro, Hulled wheat, Pira, Speltz

Synonyms

Spelta vulgaris Ser.; Triticum aestivum subsp. spelta (L.) Thell.; Triticum aestivum var. spelta (L.) L. H. Bailey; Triticum arias Clemente; Triticum elymoides Hornem.; Triticum forskalei Clemente; Triticum palmovae G. I. Ivanov; Triticum spelta var. several names; Triticum speltiforme Seidl. ex Opiz; Triticum zea Host; Zeia spelta Host; [or Triticum aestivum Spelta Group]