The most economically important crops are those of the cereal family, such as wheat, rye, corn, barley, rice, oats.

Wheat

Wheat is one of the oldest cultivated plants. It has been cultivated for more than \(10\) thousand years. Wheat grains were found during excavations of the first human settlements and even in the pyramids of the Egyptian pharaohs.

More than \(20\) types of wheat are known, each species has many varieties. But all its types and varieties have common characteristics:

• the stem is a straw with clearly visible nodes; one plant can have from \(2\) to \(12\) or more stems.
• The leaves are narrow, with parallel veins and well-developed leaf sheaths.
• The inflorescence is a complex spike.
• Wheat flowers have a typical structure for cereals: \(2\) flower scales, \(2\) flower films, \(3\) stamens, pistil with \(2\) stigmas. Self-pollination occurs in still closed flowers.
• The fruit is a grain.

Wheat varieties are divided into two groups: hard and soft.

The endosperm of durum wheat grain is dense, when cut it shines like glass, almost a quarter consists of a protein called gluten. The high gluten content in grain is valued in baking ( White bread premium, and the best varieties pasta is obtained from durum wheat grain).

Durum wheat is very demanding on soil and climate; it is grown mainly in the Kuban and Volga region, where there is a lot of heat and light, and the soil is fertile.
In soft wheat grains, the endosperm is loose, mealy, and less rich in proteins. But soft wheat is less demanding on soil and heat and is distributed almost everywhere.

Exist winter and spring varieties wheat.

Spring wheat is sown in early spring, over the summer it manages to ripen and produce a grain harvest. Winter wheat is sown in autumn. Its shoots appear in the fall, the wheat bushes and overwinters under the snow. In spring it continues to grow and ripens earlier than spring, bringing a higher yield.

Rye is a wind-pollinated plant; each spikelet of its complex spike contains \(2\) well-developed flowers and \(1\) underdeveloped ones.

The fruit is a narrow, long rye grain.

Flour from rye grains is dark, rye bread is baked from it.

Barley is an early ripening grain plant. Barley grains are used for the production of barley and pearl barley, as well as for fattening pigs and poultry.

The inflorescence of barley is a complex spike inflorescence. Each spikelet has \(1\) flower. When barley blooms, self-pollination occurs, but in hot, dry summers cross-pollination is also possible.

Oats are different from barley and rye. On the branches of its spreading inflorescence panicles there are spikelets, each of which contains \(2\)–\(3\) flowers. Self-pollination occurs in them. Oats are mainly a fodder crop, but oatmeal, oatmeal, and rolled oats are also produced from its grains. Oats are cold-resistant and are grown in middle lane and in the northern regions of our country.

Millet, like oats, has a panicle inflorescence. Its stems not only bush, but also branch. Millet is a cereal crop; grains made from it are called millet. A heat-loving plant, millet tolerates drought well, so it is cultivated mainly in southern regions European part of the country.

Rice is a valuable grain crop. Rice is a moisture-loving, heat-loving and light-loving plant. Therefore, it grows well where heat air and a lot of moisture: in fields flooded with water or with sufficient irrigation.

Corn

Corn is one of the largest cereals, up to \(2\)–\(3\) m high. Its roots grow strongly in the arable layer and go \(150\) cm or more into the soil. Large adventitious roots emerge from the lower part of the stem; hilling promotes their development. The corn stalk is thick and not hollow. The long, wide leaves have parallel veins.

Corn is monoecious. Pistillate and staminate flowers are found on the same plant. Pistillate flowers have a rounded ovary with a long silky style, ending in a bilobed stigma, and are collected in an inflorescence of a complex spadix. The ears develop in the axils of the leaves; they are covered with a green wrapper of modified leaves. Staminate flowers form a spreading inflorescence, a panicle located at the top of the stem and consisting of spikelets, each of which has \(2\) flowers with \(3\) stamens. The pollen ripens before the stigmas appear on the same plant from the cob wrappers. Therefore, self-pollination in corn almost never occurs. The wind carries pollen to the stigmas of neighboring plants.

Corn roots need good air access. The soil must be carefully cultivated before sowing and loosened in the summer. Corn is photophilous. It is sown in rows far apart from each other. It is relatively drought-resistant, but still each plant requires about a liter of water per day. Corn is very thermophilic. It is removed before the onset of frost, since adult plants are damaged even at \(1\) °C.

In areas with a temperate climate, most corn varieties often do not have time to ripen. In the middle zone, it is grown for silage for feeding to farm animals. Behind last years Varieties have been bred that produce mature grain not only in the middle zone of the country, but also in Siberia. Corn is a valuable grain, food and feed crop. It also serves as a raw material for industry.

Cereals are not only well-known agricultural crops. There are those that grow freely and are of no benefit to humans, as well as species used for design.

Description of cereal crops and their importance for humans

The fruit of cereal plants is monocotyledonous grain seed fused with the shell. The leaves are long, with parallel veins, narrow, two rows. The stem is hollow and thin. Usually long. Inflorescences are paniculate, spikelet or racemose.

The importance of cereal plants is great; it was from them, even in ancient times, that people learned to make bread and porridge. At first, bluegrass (the second name of the cereal family) was not given special attention, until they realized that their fruits can be ground into dust, that is, into flour. Dough was made from flour, and cakes were baked from the dough, since today's loaves and long loaves did not yet exist. Later, cereals began to have not only food, but also medical significance due to the nutrients it contains. In addition to cultivated plants that benefit humans, there are weeds that are harmful to agriculture, as well as perennial cereal grasses that are completely harmless.

Cultivated cereals

Over time, people realized that not all grains are edible and suitable for cooking. They were looking only for those whose grains made tasty food. That is, cultivated cereals were needed. The person also realized that it is not necessary to collect something somewhere.

Search suitable plants, every time go and find out: where they grow and in what quantity. Then take the seeds, take them home, and so on in a circle. After all, you can start growing cereal plants not far from your own home. Plant the fruits, water them and wait for them to sprout, grow into plants and ripen.

New fruits were collected, some were left for grinding, and some were left for the next sowing. This is how agriculture developed. New varieties of cereals were developed that should be resistant to droughts and other negative impacts. Breeders took into account the flower formula of cereals in order to predict the genetic structure of new plants and create a similar formula.

The modified individuals were subjected to thorough research. the main objective breeders are creating perfect varieties. These plants must be absolutely resistant to drought, weeds and other adverse influences. Each variety has its own name.

List of cultivated, weed and herbaceous plants

Bluegrass is divided into three main categories: grains, weeds and grasses. Some species are used for decoration.

The lists do not represent all representatives, but several well-known cultivated, weed and herbaceous species. In fact, there are many more of them.

Cereals:

• millet;
• oats;
• barley;
• corn;
• rye;
• wheat.

• creeping wheatgrass;
• chicken millet;
• rye fire;
• annual bluegrass.

• feather grass;
• grate;

All cereal grasses that grow freely in meadows should not be called weeds. They are the main food for livestock and poultry.

Photos and names of cereal grains

Cultivated cereals are specially grown for use as a food product. In my food I use whole and crushed grains, flour and baked goods made from it.

Millet

Millet is a plant that tolerates heat and drought well. Common millet is valuable; it is from its seeds that millet is obtained. Homeland – Southeast Asia. It is grown everywhere, including on saline soils. High acidity is the only weakness of millet; it cannot tolerate it and dies. The grains are used to prepare porridges, soups, and also as feed for poultry.

Oats

An annual plant that is widely used in agriculture. Towards negative conditions environment It is stable and can be grown on lands where it is quite cold. Originally from some provinces of Eastern China and Mongolia. Previously, it was perceived by farmers as a weed, but its feeding properties refuted this opinion. Later they learned to make various pastries from it, and the Germans brewed so-called white beer. It can be filmy or bare-grained. The latter is less common than the former and requires a lot of moisture.

Barley

One of the most important cereal crops, developed relatively recently, about seventeen thousand years ago. Residents of the Middle East were among the first to notice its benefits. Bread made from barley flour is heavier and coarser than wheat, but is considered more useful product and now. The plant is single-flowered and self-pollinating. Nowadays, barley is grown for both feed and food needs. Beer made from barley is also common among connoisseurs of this product.

Corn

Also called maize or sweet corn. Used for feed and food needs. Of the entire genus, this is the only representative of cultivated cereals. It differs from other species of the entire family in its large cob with seeds. yellow color. Country of origin: Mexico.

It ranks second in sales after wheat. Used for making corn starch, canned food and even medicines.

Rice

An annual herbaceous plant. Requires special attention, the plant is capricious and needs a lot of moisture. Grown in Asian countries, but some types of rice are African countries. Rice fields are made so that they can be flooded with water (protection from sunlight) while the plant matures, but then drained for harvest. Cereals and starch are produced from grains. If the grains are germ, then they are perfect for making rice oil.

Alcohol and medicines are made from rice. Rice straw is used to make paper, and the husks are used to make feed bran.

Rye

Nowadays, winter rye is mainly used for sowing, since it is more resistant to unfavorable conditions. An unpretentious plant, unlike wheat, rye is not particularly sensitive to soil acidity. The best soil for growing is black soil. Used for the production of flour, kvass and starch. Rye easily suppresses weeds, which greatly facilitates the fight against factors harmful to cultivation. The plant is biennial and annual. Most popular in Germany.

Wheat

This grain crop is in first place in cultivation and sale. High-quality bread is baked from wheat flour, confectionery and pasta are produced. Wheat is also used in the production of beer and other alcoholic beverages. Grown on almost all lands, except for areas related to tropical zone. Includes about ten species.

Many people believe that yellow spikelets with long whiskers are wheat. However, it is not. Wheat has grayish spikelets, fewer grains, and short whiskers.

Photos and names of weeds

A person has to fight against weedy cereals. Many of these plants are used as animal feed.

Creeping wheatgrass

Easily displaces cultivated plants. Very tenacious, capable of drawing juices from the ground that other species need. The roots are powerful, more powerful than those of cultivated representatives. Does very well in moist, fertile soil.

Chicken millet

Chicken millet or barnyard grass. It bears this name due to the fact that this plant is very similar to its cultivated relatives. Is different large size and large leaves that require a lot nutrients. Naturally, it is forced to rob other plants and take everything for itself.

Rosichka

Crabgrass, especially crabgrass, has the same ability to survive as other weeds. Can exist on acidic soils. It has a lot of seeds in its paniculate spikelets. For them to germinate, only two degrees of heat is enough.

Rye fire

Can easily be confused with rye, but survival rate is slightly higher. Drought resistant. Lives in rye fields. When its seeds are mixed during collection with the seeds of a cultivated relative, the quality of the harvest decreases.

Gumai

It also has another name - Aleppo sorghum. Is one of the most dangerous plants, poses a serious threat to cereal crops. It survives droughts well, but despite this, sorghum is very demanding of moist and fertile soil. It has a powerful rhizome for constant consumption of nutrients.

Chaff multicolor

Affects legumes and cereals. The chaff is spread everywhere. Survives well in unfavorable conditions. The plant is strong and can reach one meter in height. Prefers nitrogenous soils.

Bluegrass annual

Another representative of cereal weeds that harm agriculture. It grows in fields, mainly where grain crops are cultivated. Annual bluegrass is resistant to negative influences. This annual plant is widespread in Central Asia, Western Siberia, as well as in the Caucasus.

Photos and names of cereal herbs

Cereal herbs can become a decoration for our summer cottages if we learn how to use them correctly.

Quaking grass

It grows mainly in the meadows of Europe. It resembles a bush with panicles of flattened spikelets. Loves Sun rays and moderate moisture. Excellent as food for cattle and.

Perlovnik

So called because its seeds are very similar to pearl barley. The plant is a perennial, growing in forests and sometimes in steppes. Often found along the shores of lakes and swamps. Includes several varieties.

Feather grass

Lives in European steppes and meadows. It has a long thin spikelet that from a distance resembles a light gray thread. Very suitable as feed for farm animals. It needs sunny, neutral soils. Pollinates on its own.

Kolosnyak

Grows in the southern parts of Europe. It has a long root as it grows on sandy soils. The plant is massive, with long thick spikelets. The color of the leaves is blue-green.

Molinia

Large perennial plant. It is found in forests, swamps, as well as along the banks of rivers and lakes. It looks like a bush with straight leaves. The spikelets are paniculate, large, dark purple in color. It grows in the European part of the continent, in sunny areas or surfaces with moderate shade. Often used as an ornamental plant.

How to use cereals in your summer cottage - video

Everyone knows what cereals are. After all, man began to grow these plants more than 10 thousand years ago. That’s why even now the names of cereals such as wheat, rye, barley, rice, corn and many others are on everyone’s lips. In terms of area under crops, they have long been a leader. From our article you will learn about the structural features and economic importance these plants.

Class Monocots

The family Poaceae, or Poagrass, has many common features with Liliaceae and Onions. The fact is that they are all representatives of the Monocot class. By what characteristics can such plants be distinguished? Their embryo consists of one cotyledon. The main root of monocots dies early. But the side ones are forming. They form a fibrous root system.

The root and stem lack lateral educational tissue called cambium. Therefore, the growth of these organs in thickness is limited. Most monocots are herbaceous plants. Their leaves have parallel or reticulate veins.

Biological characteristics of the Cereals family

The “calling card” of these plants is the stem, which is called a straw. In most cereals, it is hollow in the internodes. Only in sugar cane and corn is it filled with loose connective tissue, which performs a storage function. Straw is characterized by intercalary growth.

How else can you answer the question, what are cereals? These are mostly perennial plants, although there are exceptions among them. Thus, millet and bent grass form seeds already in the first year after flowering. The root system of all cereals is fibrous. It grows in a powerful bunch straight from the stem.

The leaves also have a special structure. They are simple, sessile, elongated, with parallel veins. Their long tubular vagina encloses the stem.

Fruits and seeds

Cereal flowers are very small. Each of them has one pistil and three stamens. The perianth is simple. It is represented by two scales and films. In some species, such structures are barely noticeable and are therefore collected in inflorescences. In wheat, rye, wheatgrass and barley it is a complex ear. The flowers of rice, millet, corn and oats are formed into a panicle.

Among the cereals there are self- and wind-pollinated species. As a result of flowering, a dry multi-seeded fruit is formed - a caryopsis.

Economic aspect

Most types of cereals belong to grain crops. These are wheat, rye, oats, rice. Flour, pasta and bakery products, used as animal feed. Nutritious oil is obtained from corn seeds.

Bamboo, which grows in tropical countries, is used as a construction and finishing material.

Meadow grasses are used to feed domestic animals, both fresh and dried. The powerful root system determines the use of these plants to consolidate sand and prevent soil collapse.

Weed species of cereals

But wheatgrass, wild oats and bristle grass have earned a completely different reputation. These are nasty weeds that can be very difficult to get rid of. Such cereal plants form shoot modifications called rhizomes. They consist of highly elongated internodes. Such organs develop underground, and only the leaves are visible from the outside. Water and solution accumulate in the rhizome minerals. Therefore, weeds survive in conditions of drought and temperature changes.

Wheat

When we're talking about about cereal plants, it is simply impossible not to remember this species. Wheat, which occupies a leading position among grain crops in many countries, is annual. Therefore, its crops must be renewed annually.

Wheat is a herbaceous plant with erect stems bearing linear or flat leaves. The surface of the latter can be smooth or rough. Single ear of wheat. On its main axis there are two rows of sessile flowers, which are closely adjacent. The uppermost one is usually underdeveloped.

According to various sources, the birthplace of wheat is Armenia or Türkiye. This is one of the first domesticated cereals. Wild species of this plant have a significant disadvantage. Their grains fall out of the ear before they ripen. Therefore, its evolution followed the path of increasing resistance to shedding.

Wheat is now the leader not only in terms of area planted on the planet, but also in the number of varieties. They differ in stem shape, size and chemical composition grains For example, spelled has brittle straw and grains, which are quite difficult to separate from the films.

Wheat grains contain a large number of carbohydrates - up to 70%. These are starch, monosaccharides and dietary fiber.

Rye

It is a typical cereal of the northern hemisphere. Like wheat, rye can be spring or winter. Flour, starch, rye kvass, and raw materials for the production of alcohol are obtained from its grains. In agriculture it is used as green manure. This is the name given to plants that suppress weeds, improve soil aeration, and enrich it with nitrogen. This is especially true for loams. With the help of rye roots, it loosens and increases porosity.

This plant is also a forage crop. Its stems are used as livestock feed. And thatch is known as one of the cheapest roofing materials.

Sugar cane

When we talk about what cereals are, we should definitely talk about this plant. It is cultivated in the tropics of Eurasia and South America. Despite this, the product that is obtained from it is known to everyone. This is sugar.

This type of cane is a perennial grass. Its rhizome grows quickly and takes hold in the soil. The shoot height reaches 6 meters. The stems are cylindrical in shape, and the leaves visually resemble corn leaves. The panicle inflorescence develops at the top of the shoot. Sugarcane propagates vegetatively using cuttings.

Rice

This cereal is the oldest cultivated by man. Initially it was grown only in the East. Here people have found use for all parts of this plant. Food and drinks were prepared from the seeds, and paper was made from dry shoots. Even rice husks are used as fertilizer or used as animal feed. Today rice is popular all over the world.

There are many varieties of rice based on the shape of the grains and processing methods. For example, brown rice is a product of husking, while white rice is obtained by grinding. The first one is more useful because it contains bran with a significant supply of dietary fiber. Steamed rice cooks the fastest. Its grains do not stick together and have a beautiful brown tint. This product is obtained by processing with hot steam.

Rice differs in the shape of the grains. The longest reaches 6 mm. This is the most popular variety for making pilaf. It is better to add medium grain rice to porridges and soups. Well, lovers of risotto and casseroles use round grains with a length of up to 5 mm.

Valuable nutritional quality rice are explained by the high content of polysaccharides, proteins, and B vitamins in its cereals. Impressive and mineral composition: sodium, potassium, iodine, iron, selenium.

Corn

This is another plant that competes for the title of the oldest of cereals. Corn is an annual herbaceous crop. It is represented by cultivated, forage and wild species.

Corn is a fairly tall plant. Often its shoots grow up to 3 meters. The stem does not have a cavity inside. Among the oblong lanceolate species, fruits - cobs - are clearly visible. On the outside they are covered with a series of leaf-shaped involucres. The fibrous root system of corn is powerful. It is capable of penetrating to a depth of more than a meter. But it cannot hold the massive above-ground part with heavy fruits. Therefore, corn often develops support roots. They hold the plant in the soil and additionally provide it with mineral solutions from it.

One ear can contain up to a thousand seeds. They have a round or cubic shape and are closely pressed together in vertical rows. Growing corn requires heat and moisture. The optimal temperature for this cereal is +20. These factors are limiting in its distribution areas.

So, in our article we looked at what cereals are. These are representatives of the Monocot class. These include herbaceous plants with a hollow stem called a culm. The root system is fibrous. Small flowers are collected in spikes or panicles.

Most cereals are valued as grain crops and are used in the food industry. Flour, cereals, and bakery products are obtained from wheat, rice, rye, barley, and corn. Forage species are used to feed livestock. A valuable food structure is sugar cane. There are also harmful weeds among cereals that harm agricultural crops.

Plants of the cereal family are not only well-known agricultural crops grown exclusively for further processing. Many names of cereals are also known to landscape designers, who often use these spiking plants to create compositions in a natural style.

You will learn below about what types of cereals there are and what conditions are necessary to grow them. Also on this page you can see photos and names of cereal plants suitable for growing in rockeries, flower beds and mixborders.

Cereal plants for rockeries

BOUTELOUA. Poa family (grasses).

Speaking about which cereal plants are ideal for dry rockeries, first of all, it is mentioned boutelois (B. gracilis) .

This is a low-growing (20-30 cm) grass from the dry prairies of North America. A dense bush formed by narrow, pubescent leaves. In July, one-sided short ears of corn rise above them.

Growing conditions. Sunny areas with poor, dry, sandy soils.

Reproduction. Only by seeds (sowing in spring). Planting density is single.

Good in sunny dry rockeries.

Shaker (BRIZA). Poa family (grasses).

Medium shaker(B. media)- an elegant perennial grass from the meadows of Europe. Forms a loose bush 30-40 cm high with a spreading panicle of slightly flattened spikelets on
thin drooping branches.

Growing conditions. Sunny areas with moderately moist soils.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing in spring) and dividing the bush (in spring). Planting density is single.

Pearl barley (MELICA). Poa family (grasses).

The name of this cereal is explained by the similarity of its seeds to the famous pearl barley. These are rhizomatous perennials, often forest, sometimes steppe of the temperate zone. The leaves are narrow, the panicle is dense, one-sided, with short branches.

Types and varieties. The most decorative:

High pearl barley (M. altissima)- forms a thicket 80 - 100 cm high.

Transylvanian pearl barley (M. transsilvanica)- thick turf 50-60 cm high.

Perlovnik single-flowered (M. uniflora)- bushes 20-30 cm.

Growing conditions. Sunny and semi-shaded places with loose, well-drained soils.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing in spring), dividing the bush (spring or late summer). Planting density -9-16 pcs. per 1 m2.

As you can see in the photo, plants of the cereal family, including pearl barley, look ideal in mixborders, flower beds in the “natural garden” style, and low varieties - in rockeries.

Tall cereal plants

Below are the names of tall cereal plants.

Feather grass (STIPA). Poa family (grasses).

Of course, when remembering which plants are cereals, one of the first to come to mind is feather grass - these are tall, densely bushy cereals from the steppes of Eurasia. The most promising for growing in central Russia are feather grasses from the northern steppes. The leaves are narrow, hard, peduncles up to 120 cm high bear a panicle of beautiful spikelets with a long awn.

Types and varieties:

feather grass (S. pennata)- height 50 cm.

Giant feather grass (S. gigantea)- height 150 cm.

Hairy feather grass (S. capillata)- height 80 cm.

Growing conditions. Sunny areas with rich, well-drained neutral soils.

Reproduction. By seeds (sown before winter), transplantation is tolerated only at the age of 2-3 years. Vegetative propagation difficult. Planting density - 5 pcs. per 1 m2.

Spikeweed (ELYMUS).

Types and varieties:

Sandy grate (E. arenarius)- tall (60-120 cm) plant, bluish, hard leaves, up to 1 cm wide, flowering in June-July, grows on the sands of northern Europe.

Giant grate (E. giganteus)- 50-100 cm high, variety “GLaucus” - long-rhizome creeping plant, bluish-green leaves, wide (up to 1.5 cm), blooms slightly earlier (early June), grows on the sands of southern Europe.

Growing conditions. Sunny areas with loose sandy soils and good drainage.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing in spring) and dividing the bush (spring and late summer).

Two-tufted canaryweed (PHALAROIDES = DIGRAPHIS).

Poa family (grasses).

Reed-shaped dvukochnik(Ph. arundinacea)- long-rhizomatous grass with wide rough leaves, height 80-100 cm. The panicle is spike-shaped, compressed, reddish.
Variety "Picta" - leaves are light green with a white border.

Growing conditions. Sunny areas with wet soils, banks of reservoirs.

Reproduction. Sections of rhizomes with a renewal bud. Planting density - 5 pcs. per 1 m2.

Hedgehog (DACTYLIS). Poa family (grasses).

A perennial loose-bush grass 70-90 cm high, growing in moderately moist meadows and forest clearings. The leaves are thin, flat, bright green. A panicle of spikelets clustered into balls at the ends of the branches. The leaves remain decorative from spring to autumn, bloom in June-July, bear fruit, but, very importantly, do not weed. Interesting as a participant in flower beds in the “natural garden” style.

Growing conditions. Sunny and slightly shaded areas with any moderately moist soils.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing before winter), dividing the bush (in spring and late summer). Planting density - 9 pcs. per 1 m2.

Molinia (MOLINIA). Poa family (grasses).

Blue molinia (M. caerulea)- a short-rhizomatous perennial grass 50-70 cm high with flat linear leaves and spreading panicles, the spikelets of which are dark purple.

Growing conditions. Sunny or semi-shaded areas along the banks of reservoirs with wet peaty soils. Tolerates salinity.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing in spring), dividing the bush (in spring and late summer). Planting density - 9 pcs. per 1 m2.

What other grains are there?

Below are photos and names of cereals that have the most striking decorative properties.

Barley (HORDEUM). Poa family (grasses).

Maned barley(H. jubatum)- one of the most beautiful cereals with a dense turf of narrow silky leaves and erect stems 30-50 cm high, ending in a complex spike with long (up to 9 cm) red-violet awns. In nature it grows in dry meadows Far East. It blooms for a long time, from July to September, and at this time it is most decorative.

In central Russia, in some winters it freezes (or rather, rots away), but can also be used as an annual.

Growing conditions. Sunny areas with garden soils.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing in spring) and dividing the bush (in spring). Planting density - 20 pcs. per 1 m2.

Ryegrass (ARRHENATHERUM). Poa family (grasses).

Speaking about what other cereals there are, we cannot fail to mention:

French ryegrass (A. elatius) and especially its form "Variegatum". This is a long-rhizome grass that forms a dense, beautiful clump 40-60 cm high. The leaves are narrow with a white stripe. Very stable, undemanding.

Growing conditions. Sunny places with any soil. It is recommended to prune the bush 2-3 times per season.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing in spring) and dividing the bush (in spring and late summer). Planting density - 12 pcs. per 1 m2.

Cereals are the main sources of human nutrition, animal feed, and raw materials for industry. Grain farming accounts for 35% of arable land in the world.

Due to the diversity of species, varieties and forms, crops can grow in different climatic zones. For this reason, the concentration of grains on heavy and light soils is the same, but the yield differs significantly.

Grain is easy to transport and does not require high storage costs. At low humidity, about 18%, it is stored for a long time, with losses of only 2%.

Proportion of cereals grown in temperate climate, is 40%. The most important grain crop in Russia and the world is wheat.

Cereals - list of plants with photos

Cereals belong to the cereal family (Poacea) or bluegrass ( Pooideae).

Among them there are breads of the first group (typical breads) and the second group (millet breads). Typical grains are rye, wheat, barley, and oats. Millet crops include rice, corn, buckwheat and others.

The structure of important organs in most breads looks similar. The root system of cereals is fibrous, with the exception of buckwheat - it has a taproot. Winter rye, wheat and corn boast the most powerful, well-developed roots.

The stem is a hollow straw and has up to 8 internodes. The greatest width is at the roots and the smallest at the top. The exception is corn - its stalk is filled with loose tissue.

The inflorescence is an ear (in rye, barley and wheat) and a panicle (oats, rice). Corn has two types of inflorescences - panicle and cob. The fruit is a grain or nut of buckwheat.

Rye

There are annual and perennial types of rye. Of these, only one is cultivated - Secale cereale.

The rye inflorescence is a complex spike. Among winter grains, rye has the most developed roots. The leaves are linear, green, matte. Wind pollinated. Rye tolerates cold better than other crops.

The main composition of grains: carbohydrates and protein (up to 10%). Also contains vitamins B, PP, E and minerals.

Thanks to useful composition rye is used in folk medicine:

• increases the body's resistance to diseases;
• lowers blood sugar levels;
• has an expectorant effect on coughs;
• dietary fiber stimulates the gastrointestinal tract.

Processed grains are used to bake bread. The waste obtained during the sorting process has nutritional value for livestock. A good rye harvest can be obtained even with poor climatic conditions.

Oats

Two types are most widespread in cultivation: common oats (Avenasativa) and Byzantine oats (Avenabyzantina).

The stem of a herbaceous plant is a hollow straw. The root system, like most cereals, is fibrous. The leaves are elongated and have a linear pattern. The inflorescence of oats is a panicle, and the fruit is a caryopsis.

The chemical composition of the grain is rich in vitamin B, calcium, iron, and phosphorus. The main place is occupied by carbohydrates, starch and protein.

Oats are widely used for processing into human food and animal feed. From its grains you can get oatmeal, oatmeal, and biscuits. Porridges made from oatmeal are recommended for dietary nutrition.

Oats are also used for cooking alcoholic drinks, mash. Oat grain is a high-quality feed for large and small cattle. The harvest of oats and other crops is used for haylage and silage.

Wheat

Wheat is the most common cultivated herbaceous plant.

People often ask, is wheat a bush or a grass? Let's take a look: up to 10 stems can grow from one plant; wheat looks like a shrub in appearance, but its stems are soft and hollow inside, which classifies it as a herbaceous plant.

Due to its ability to grow in different soils and in different climatic conditions, wheat (Triticum) has many species, subspecies and varieties.

Winter wheat

Spring and winter wheat are distinguished, depending on the sowing time; soft (T. Aestivum) and hard (T. durum) - based on the hardness of the grains. Soft wheat contains a large proportion of gluten, and therefore flour is produced from it, and pasta is made from hard wheat.

Wheat grains contain a large amount of fiber, vitamins E and B, magnesium, potassium, zinc, phosphorus, and pectin.

Wheat benefits the human body:

• lowers cholesterol levels;
• improves digestion processes;
• due to the presence of phosphorus in the composition, it stimulates the heart;
• large amounts of carbohydrates provide energy;
• The fiber in the composition cleanses the intestines, thereby promoting the loss of extra pounds.

It grows almost all over the world, with the exception of the tropics. It is of great food and economic importance.

Ground wheat grains are used for baking, confectionery and pasta, and for brewing beer and vodka. Fiber is part of bran for dietary nutrition. Good fodder for livestock.

Semolina, Poltava, Artek are made from wheat. By special processing grains can be obtained from bulgur, couscous. IN Lately Whole grain baked goods made from wheat have become popular.

Wheat and rye are the most important cereal plants in the production of bread. However, there are differences between them:

1. The cultivation of wheat began much earlier. Initially, rye was considered a weed.
2. The chemical composition and color of the grains are different.
3. Rye tolerates unfavorable climatic conditions more easily.
4. There are many cultivated varieties of wheat, while rye is represented by only one.

Corn

Corn is a dioecious annual herbaceous plant. Wide linear leaves are arranged alternately around the stem.

There is one cultivated species of corn called Zea mays. Depending on the structure of the grains, it is divided into several subspecies. The most popular of them are: starchy, tooth-like, sugar, popping, siliceous. Each subspecies has its own purpose in industry.

Let's see, is corn a grain crop or a vegetable? Corn belongs to the cereal family, but is used as a vegetable for human nutrition. Accordingly, it can be attributed to both.

The grains contain a lot of vitamin E, starch, mineral salts, and amino acids. Corn is grown for food and as feed for animals.

They are consumed in the form of boiled cobs, popcorn, starch, alcohol, corn sticks, and corn grits porridges.

The plant is thermophilic, so it is grown in China, Brazil, Argentina, Central America, Mexico, USA, and India. Russia ranks 12th in the list of countries for corn cultivation.

Barley

This culture unites 30 species. Barley (Hordeum sativum) is cultivated. Appearance and its structure is the same as that of rye and wheat.

There are three subspecies of barley:

• multi-row (vulgare) – three spikelets are developed;
• two-row (distichum) – the middle spikelet is developed;
• intermediate (intermedium) - up to three developed spikelets.

Barley grains contain a small amount of protein, so they are used mainly in the brewing industry. It is also used to produce flour and cereals – barley and pearl barley. Straw and greens are used to feed animals.

Countries such as Canada are engaged in growing barley on an industrial scale. North America, countries of Europe and Asia. In Russia, barley is produced in all grain-growing regions.

Rice

Rice (Oryza sativa) is a herbaceous cereal. The root system is superficial and contains air-bearing tissue. The leaves are elongated, lanceolate, narrow, pointed. The inflorescence is a panicle.

Depending on the subspecies, the forms of grains are distinguished:

• Indian – thin and long;
• Javanese - wide and short;
• Japanese – rounded.

Asia is considered the birthplace of rice. It is grown in Canada, America, India, Japan, and the Mediterranean. In Russia, rice plantations can be found in the Krasnodar region.

Rice grains contain carbohydrates significant amount, but low in fat and protein. Has good taste qualities, easy to digest. Rice water is used for medicinal purposes.

In light industry, rice starch and oil are used. Straw can be used to produce high quality paper, cardboard, rope, and is used as livestock feed.

It is worth noting: Among grains, rice is the most productive.

Buckwheat

Buckwheat (esculentum moenh) is a herbaceous plant up to 190 cm high. It is an annual plant. It is divided into subspecies - ordinary (vulgare) and multi-leaved (multifolium).

The hollow ribbed stem branches. The leaves are arrow-shaped and arranged alternately. The flowers are collected in clusters and have an intense aroma, which attracts honey insects.

Buckwheat has good nutritional properties, a pleasant taste and is easy to digest. The protein in buckwheat fruits contains a large number of valuable amino acids, so it is considered one of the best dietary foods.

Buckwheat, kernels and flour are used for food consumption. Waste from processing is used to feed livestock.

The yield of buckwheat depends on where it grows. Largest harvest produce crops located close to forest belts.

Conclusion

Cereals are a large family of angiosperms. Over the entire period of their existence, only a small part of their representatives has been domesticated. However, the fruit of cereals - the grain - has become the main food product for the population of the entire globe.

The high nutritional value of cereals is due to their balanced protein and starch content. Vegetable protein is well absorbed by the human body.