Durum wheat, Hard wheat, Macaroni wheat
Triticum durum

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A clumping grass. It grows 0.9-1.5 m high and spreads 30-50 cm wide. The leaves are narrow, flat and rough. They are strap like. The flower stems are smooth and hollow. The flowers are in dense, somewhat flattened spikelets. These do not have stalks. The seed heads usually have beards. The seed are hard and oval and can be white, red or yellow.

It is rich in gluten.

Where it is found

It has drought resistance. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Central Asia, China, East Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Europe, Finland, France, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Mali, Mauritania, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Pakistan, Russia, Scandinavia, Serbia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Turkey, Türkiye, USA, West Africa

How it is used for food

It is used for semolina and pasta. It is used in spaghetti, noodles, cakes, puddings and some breads and in couscous. It is made into porridge.

It is a staple food of North Africa. It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Seeds, cereal

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ble dur, Flint wheat, Grano duro, Gyon, Tama-gauk-gyon, Trio duro

Synonyms

Gigachilon polonicum subsp. durum (Desf.) A. Love; Triticum aestivum subsp. durum (Desf.) Thell.; Triticum durum Desf.; Triticum durum var. apulicum (Korn.) Stolet.; Triticum durum var. fere-alexandrinum Jakubz. & Nikolaenko; Triticum durum var. hordeiforme (Host) Metzg.; Triticum durum var. leucomelan Diamantis, nom. inval.; Triticum durum var. leucurum (Alef.) Stolet.; Triticum durum var. melanopus (Alef.) Stolet.; Triticum hordeiforme Host; Triticum pyramidale Percival; Triticum pyramidale var. pseudocompressum Percival; Triticum pyramidale var. pseudocopticum Percival; T Triticum turgidum var. durum (Desf.) Bowden; Triticum vulgare var. aegyptiacum Korn. [or Triticum turgidum Durum Group]