Botanical descriptions of varieties
As part of the procedure of testing varieties for distinctness, uniformity and stability, botanical descriptions are compiled. These are used by crop inspectors to identify varieties.
Summary description sheets (also known as ‘the coloured sheets’) of the most widely grown varieties are made available to licensed crop inspectors each season, alternatively they can be downloaded from here.
Recommended List Cereal descriptions
Main Varietal Characters of Coloured Flower Pea Varieties
Main Varietal Characters of White Flowered Pea Varieties
Table of Main Identification Characters Of Field Beans
Oil and Fibre (inc. fodder root) descriptions
Additionally you can search for individual descriptions of cereal varieties. To locate a specific variety (using Internet Explorer), click on the 'Edit' menu at the top of the screen and then choose the 'Find' option. Enter the variety name.
Winter wheat descriptions
Spring wheat descriptions
Winter barley descriptions
Spring barley descriptions
Oat descriptions
Rye, triticale and durum wheat descriptions
If a description is needed for inspecting a seed crop in England and Wales and can’t be found on these pages please contact Tony Chapman