What Is Wheat? A Comprehensive Guide to the Basic Facts About Wheat
I. What It Is
Wheat is the collective term for plants of the wheat genus. It is an annual herbaceous plant and one of the three major grains worldwide, with a very long history of cultivation. Its caryopsis can be ground into flour to make steamed buns, bread and the like, providing the nutrients needed.
II. Morphological Characteristics
The stalk of wheat is straight and upright, generally 60 to 100 cm in height, with a diameter generally between 5 and 7 mm, relatively slender. The leaves are long and lanceolate, relatively slender and elongated. It bears a spike inflorescence standing upright atop the stalk, about 5 to 10 cm long.
III. Growing Environment
Wheat grows in relatively deep and thick soil, which helps retain water, soil and nutrients and enables the plant to grow vigorously. It is a long-day crop and needs 8 to 12 hours of light per day, so wheat is generally grown outdoors on a large scale and is distributed over a relatively wide range of areas.