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Common Name: Polish Wheat

General Information

Triticum turgidum polonicum is an annual plant that can grow up to 1.30 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

The origin of this species is uncertain.

Habitat

Developed through cultivation, it is not known in a truly wild location.

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	1.30 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in most well-drained soils in a sunny position.
A rather primitive wheat, it probably arose through cultivation about 10,000 years ago following a cross between T. aethiopicum (the first primitive wheat) and Aegilops sp. It is sometimes cultivated for its edible seed, especially in N. Africa and the Mediterranean, and it can be grown very successfully under garden conditions[]. There are some named varieties. 'Kamut' has very large kernels, 2 - 3 times the size of modern wheats. The seed contains significantly higher levels of protein and slightly higher levels of lipids and minerals. Reportedly less allergenic, though this has not been substantiated by controlled studies. The seed is said to have a superior flavour[].
A tetraploid species[].

Edible Uses

Seed - cooked[, , ]. It is usually ground into a flour and used as a cereal. High in gluten[]. The large seeds are suitable for making macaroni but not for bread[, , , ]. The grain falls readily from the ears, it is of no value for milling[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

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.

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring or autumn in situ and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within a few days[]. This sub-species is most commonly sown in the spring, though it is also sometimes sown in the autumn[].