Wheat

Triticum aestivum

Alternate names
Volunteer Wheat

Weed Description
A winter annual grass that tillers and produces leaves that tend to twist clockwise. Volunteer wheat can occur as a common weed in agronomic production systems as it emerges in the fall and remains dormant until temperatures rise in the spring.

Leaves
Often twist in a clockwise direction, are without hairs, and have a membranous ligule. Auricles are present and tend to be quite large and hairy.

Stems
The stem consists of successive nodes and hollow internodes. Sheaths encase the stem providing structural support to the shoot which reduces lodging.

Flowers
Seedheads contain many spikelets, spikelets are contained inside a lemma and a palea. Within these enclosed structures are the male and female reproductive organs.

Roots
Fibrous root system that spreads 6 to 9 inches in all directions of the plant. Roots are able to penetrate to soil depts of 3 to 4 feet.

Identifying Characteristics
Volunteer wheat can easily be mistaken for other grain crops such as oats and barley. Volunteer wheat differs from these other species due to the presence of auricles that contain hairs and also with leaves that often twist clockwise.

Office of Programs

University of Missouri

Wheat

Triticum aestivum