Wild oats
Avena fatua

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A stout, erect annual grass. It grows 1.2 m high. The stems are robust. The sheaths of the basal leaves are hairy. The leaves are flat and 45 cm long by 15 mm wide. The flowers are in heads up to 40 cm long. They are open and nodding. The awn is long (2.5-5 cm) and bent in the middle. The lower half is dark brown in each floret. The seed has a dense covering of hairs.

It can become a serious weed in temperate cereal crops. There are about 25 Avena species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in pasture land. It grows in high altitudes and in winter crops in the tropics. It normally grows where rainfall is 375-750 mm per year. It will grow in a wide range of soils and can tolerate alkaline and acid soils. It will grow with a pH down to 4.5. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 2,000 m above sea level. Tasmanian Herbarium. It grows in Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Albania, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Central Asia, Chile, China, East Africa, Easter Island, Europe, Himalayas, India, Inner Mongolia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Middle East, Nepal, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pakistan, Russia, Sikkim, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The grain is used for bread. They are dried, smashed and fried.

Edible parts

Seeds, cereal

How it is grown

The seed is very long lived.

The grain is shed early making it hard to harvest.

Its other names

Local names

Avena guacha, Drake, Flaver, Gluhi oves, Jangali jau, Joa, Potato oat, Tartarean oat, Wongdaba, Yanmai

Synonyms

Avena orientalis Schreb.; Avena sativa subsp. fatua (L.) Thell.;