CEREALS

Cereal Grains
- Seeds from the grass family Gramineae
- Staff of life
Grains
- Worlds major food crops
Wheat, Rice, corn and barley
- Most common grains which account for 85% of the worlds
production of grains
Millet, sorghum, oats and rye
- Accounts for the remaining 15%
Cereal
- Derived from the Roman Goddess of agricultural, and refers to
grains in general

Composition of Cereal Grains
Structure
Caryopses - individual kernels or grains found in all grasses which are similar
in structure
Bran the outer covering just under the husk that protects the grains soft
endosperm
- 14.5 % of the grain by weight and is an excellent source of fiber and
minerals
Husk the rough outer covering protecting the grain
Endosperm the largest portion of the grain, containing all of the grains
starch
Germ the smallest portion of the grain, and the embryo for a future plant.