It is a winter annual with loose, flattened spikes bearing long, stiff awns. Spikelets fall from the fragile spike at maturity. Spikelets are large, usually with three flowers but developing only two kernels. Wild emmer appears not to be cultivated. Poulard wheat , Triticum turgidum L. Poulard wheats may be winter or spring in habit.
Stems are usually tall, thick, and solid or pithy.
Leaves are broad. Spikes are long and dense, sometimes compound or branched. They are near square in cross-section, with long awns. Kernels are short, ovate and humped in shape. Poulard wheat is closely related to durum but is somewhat inferior in this country both in production and in macaroni making quality, so has practically disappeared from cultivation.