G.173. Avena L. - Oats

Description of the genus

Annuals. Inflorescence an open nodding panicle. Spikelets large (10 - 40 mm), 2-several-flowered, laterally flattened or terete, disarticulating below each floret or only above the glumes. Lower 1-3 florets bisexual; upper male, sterile or reduced. Glumes herbaceous to membranous, persistent, dorsally rounded; apex acute or acuminate. Lemmas usually shorter than the glumes, 5-9-nerved, awned; apex acute to acuminate, 2-dentate; awn dorsal.

Derivation of name: the classical name for the oat.

Worldwide: c. 25 species, mainly Mediterranean and Middle East, extending to northern Europe and a widespread weed in other temperate countries.

Zimbabwe: 4 taxa.

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Links to taxa:     View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this genus

SpeciesFZ divisionsContent
byzantina K. KochC
fatua L.C,E,SDescription
sativa L.CDescription
sterilis L. subsp. ludoviciana (Durieu) Gillet & Magne.C,S

Other sources of information about Avena:

Our websites:

Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Avena
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Avena

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Avena
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Avena
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Avena
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Avena
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Avena
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Avena
JSTOR Plant Science: Avena
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Avena
Plants of the World Online: Avena
Tropicos: Avena
Wikipedia: Avena

Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Genus page: Avena.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/genus.php?genus_id=129, retrieved 29 March 2024

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