Wheat, any ofseveral species of cereal grasses of the genus Triticum (familyPoaceae) and their edible grains. Wheat is one of the oldest andmost important of the cereal crops. Of the thousands of varietiesknown, the most important are common wheat (Triticum aestivum),used to make bread; durum wheat (T. durum),used in making pasta (alimentary pastes) such as spaghetti andmacaroni; and club wheat (T. compactum), asofter type, used for cake, crackers, cookies, pastries, andflours. Additionally, some wheat is used by industry for theproduction of starch, paste, malt, dextrose, gluten, alcohol, andother products.