Triticum [unranked] Eremopyrum Ledebour, Fl. Altaic. 1: 112. 1829.

Plants annual. Culms erect or geniculate-ascending. Leaf sheath split to base; leaf blade usually flat. Spike ellipsoid-ovoid or cylindric-ovoid, very dense; rachis short, disarticulating at nodes. Spikelets 1 per node, held at nearly 90° to rachis, sessile, laterally compressed, with 3–6 florets; rachilla somewhat scabrous or shortly pilose, with or without joints below each floret. Glumes boat-shaped, leathery, with prominent keel, margin somewhat thickened, ultimately subhorny. Lemma leathery, 5-veined, 1-keeled, apex pointed or shortly awned; callus very short. Palea usually almost 2/3 as long as lemma, scabrous or pilose along keels. Lodicules ciliate at margin. Caryopsis somewhat adherent to lemma and palea. x = 7.

All species are valuable fodder plants for ephemeral spring pastures.

About eight species: from N Africa and the Mediterranean region to the W Himalayas; four species in China.