[3] The T. araraticum species appears to have arisen from the natural hybridization of T. boeoticum and Aegilops speltoides.

[4] T. araraticum is similar to the domestic T. timopheevii in several ways including physical appearance, cytoplasm type and DNA content.

[5] The relationship has led some taxonomists to classify T. araraticum as a subspecies of T. timopheevii.

[3] The araraticum subspecies of T. araraticum grows primarily in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Iraq and Turkey,[6] while the kurdistanicum subspecies grows in Iraq and the nearby areas of Iran and Turkey.

[3] In Armenia, the subspecies can be found in Voghjaberd and Vedi villages near capital Yerevan and the villages of Areni, Arpi and Aghavnadzor in Vayots Dzor Province.