triticum

plural triticums

1. countableuncountableA plant of the genus Triticum (wheat and related cereals).

   Another indefinite name of travellers is “bunch grass,” is given to any kind that forms clumps or tufts; festucas, boutelouas, triticums, and eriocoma all bear this name.—Grasses regarded as Weeds.

   1881, “GRASSES”, in George Ripley, Charles A. Dana, editors, The American Cyclopædia: A Popular Dictionary of General Knowledge, volumes VIII: “Glasgow–Hortense”, New York: D. Appleton and Company, […], page 169, column 1

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   The Characteriſticks of the Triticums, or Wheat-corns, are, according to Ray, that they are culminiferous, graminifolious Herbs, having an imperfect Flower; which culminiferous Herbs or Plants, are thoſe which have a large Grain, or thoſe which have a ſmall one: All which are annual. [Note:] The Character of the Triticums.

   1734, “Of the ſeveral Species of Wheat and Rye; their Etymology, Character, &c. together with the true Seaſons of Sowing, and Soil proper for each Species”, in The Practical Husbandman and Planter: or, Observations on the Ancient and Modern Husbandry, Planting and Gardening; […], volumes II: “Containing July, August and September”, number IV: “for July”, London: […] S. Switzer, […], page 117

   It was for some time considered that wheat belonged to the genus triticum, perhaps from the form of its spike of flowers and the peculiar flavour of its herbage: this latter fact, which becomes apparent upon crushing the leaves of a young wheat plant or leaves of the couch—triticum repens—in a peculiar disagreeable odour, is, doubtless, derivable from the presence of an essential oil, to which we may perhaps attribute the medicinal properties which cause the emetic action on dogs; and this unison of quality in the herbage of wheat and the wild triticums would at least lead to the inference of the affinity of the plants producing it.

   1856, The Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, volume the seventeenth, London: John Murray, […], page 174

   And strange to say, Eppie, the recluse of the garret, who had not set her foot on a green thing growing beyond the orchard for many a year and day, even she gave eager interest and stimulus to the girl’s pursuit, and with spectacles on nose peered into triticums and anemones brought from the mountain, and into apple blossoms, and even into dandelions and buttercups gathered in the orchard, for want of rarer flowers.

   1881, Margaret Murray Robertson, “Chapter VII”, in Frederica and Her Guardians: or the Perils of Orphanhood, London: Hodder and Stoughton, […], page 92

   Dr. Ann has a long list of stories and testimonials from guests who improved their health with the help of wheatgrass. Wheatgrass and its sister triticum barley, have by testimony, helped guests with ailments like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, gastritis, stomach ulcers, pancreas and liver troubles, asthma, glaucoma, eczema, skin problems, constipation, hemorrhoids, diverticulitis, colitis, fatigue, female problems, arthritis, athlete’s foot, anemia, bad breath/body odor, and burns.[…]But barley, wheat, oats, Kamut, and rye are all brother and sister triticums.

   2006, Steve Meyerowitz, Wheatgrass: Nature’s Finest Medicine: The Complete Guide to Using Grasses to Revitalize Your Health, 7th edition, Sproutman Publications, →ISBN, page 34 (“The Pioneers”), 59 (“Research”)

   Synonyms: wheat