Oats
Avena sativa

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

An annual grass plant and cereal with an open spreading flower head. It can grow up to 1 or 1.5 m tall. The stalks are moderately stout. The leaves are narrow and sword shaped. They are flat and 45 cm long by 25 cm wide. The flower arrangement is an open panicle. This is in a head 50 cm long. The flowers are held to one side of the stem. The fruit is a grain tightly enclosed by the glume.

There are about 25 Avena species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It would suit some highland areas in the tropics. In Nepal it grows to about 1300 m altitude. It will grow in slightly colder areas than wheat. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,700 m above sea level. Tasmanian Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Balkans, Belgium, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Caucasus, Central Asia, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, East Africa, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Europe, Falklands, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lithuania, Macedonia, Madagascar, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Moldova, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, North Africa, North America, Norway, Pacific, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The seeds are used as food after the outer layer is removed. They are used as rolled oats, porridge, breakfast foods and in cakes and biscuits. The young seedlings are juiced or dried and used as a food supplement. Sprouted seeds are used in salads.

It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Seeds, cereal, sprouted seeds, seedlings

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Avena, Avena blanca, Avoine, Groats, Hafer, Navadni oves, Ok-gyon, Shvria, Varintsoavaly

Synonyms

Avena byzantina K. Koch; Avena byzantina var. anopla Mordv.; Avena diffusa var. segetalis Vavilov; Avena diffusa var. volgensis Vavilov; Avena orientalis Schreb.; Avena sativa cv. montana Alef.; Avena sativa cv. obtusata Alef.; Avena sativa cv. pugnax Alef.; Avena sativa cv. tristis Alef.; Avena sativa var. aristata Schltdl.; Avena sativa var. brunnea Korn.; Avena sativa var. cinerea Korn.; Avena sativa var. diffusa Neilr.; Avena sativa var. eligulata Vavilov ex Mordv.; Avena sativa var. flava Korn.; Avena sativa var. grisea Korn.; Avena sativa var. inermis Korn.; Avena sativa var. ligulata Vavilov ex Mordv.; Avena sativa var. mutica Schltdl., nom. illeg.; Avena sativa var. nigra Haller; Avena sativa var. nigra Schrank; Avena sativa var. orientalis (Schreb.) Hook. f.; Avena sativa var. segetalis (Vavilov) Nevski; Avena volgensis (Vavilov) Nevski