''Avena'' is a genus of Eurasian and African plants in the

grass family Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos and the grasses of natural grassland and species cultivated in lawns and ...

. Collectively known as the oats, they include some species which have been cultivated for thousands of years as a food source for humans and livestock. They are widespread throughout Europe, Asia and northwest Africa. Several species have become naturalized in many parts of the world, and are regarded as invasive weeds where they compete with crop production. All oats have edible seeds, though they are small and hard to harvest in most species. * See Oat for a more detailed discussion of the oat as a food source.

Ecology

''Avena'' species, including cultivated oats, are used as food plants by the larvae of some

Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 Family (biology), families and 46 Taxonomic r ...

species, including

rustic shoulder-knot ''Apamea sordens'', the rustic shoulder-knot or bordered apamea, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Johann Siegfried Hufnagel in 1766. It is distributed throughout Europe, east across the Palearctic to Central ...

and setaceous Hebrew character. For diseases of oats, see

List of oat diseases This article is a list of diseases of the cultivated oat ''Avena sativa''. Bacterial diseases Fungal diseases Miscellaneous diseases or disorders Nematodes, parasitic Viruses Oats The oat (''Avena sativa''), sometimes called t ...

Species

Cultivated oats

One species is of major commercial importance as a

cereal A cereal is any Poaceae, grass cultivated for the edible components of its grain (botanically, a type of fruit called a caryopsis), composed of the endosperm, Cereal germ, germ, and bran. Cereal Grain, grain crops are grown in greater quantit ...

grain. Four other species are grown as crops of minor or regional importance. * '' Avena sativa'' – the common oat, a cereal crop of global importance and the species commonly referred to as "oats" * ''

Avena abyssinica ''Avena abyssinica'', also known as the Ethiopian oat and "Ajja" by Ethiopians, is a member of the family Poaceae. This grain has long been used in Ethiopia and is well adapted to the high elevations and other conditions there. Still a traditiona ...

'' – the Ethiopian oat, native to Ethiopia, Eritrea, + Djibouti; naturalized in Yemen + Saudi Arabia * ''

Avena byzantina ''Avena byzantina'', red oats, is a species of cultivated oat native to Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, the Transcaucasus, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Cultivated for thousands of years, it is better suited to warmer conditions than white or common oats (''Av ...

'', a minor crop in Greece and Middle East; introduced in Spain, Algeria, India, New Zealand, South America, etc. * '' Avena nuda'' – the naked oat or hulless oat, which plays much the same role in Europe as does ''A. abyssinica'' in Ethiopia. It is sometimes included in ''A. sativa'' and was widely grown in Europe before the latter replaced it. As its

nutrient A nutrient is a substance used by an organism to survive, grow, and reproduce. The requirement for dietary nutrient intake applies to animals, plants, fungi, and protists. Nutrients can be incorporated into cells for metabolic purposes or excret ...

content is somewhat better than that of the common oat, ''A. nuda'' has increased in significance in recent years, especially in organic farming. * ''

Avena strigosa ''Avena strigosa'' (also called lopsided oat, bristle oat or black oat; syn. ''Avena hispanica'' Ard.) is a species of grass native to Europe. It has edible seeds and is often cultivated as animal feed Animal feed is food given to domestic an ...

'' – the lopsided oat, bristle oat, or black oat, grown for

fodder Fodder (), also called provender (), is any agriculture, agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock, such as cattle, domestic rabbit, rabbits, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. "Fodder" refers particularly to food g ...

in parts of Western Europe and Brazil

Wild oats

Several species of ''Avena'' occur in the wild, sometimes as weeds in agricultural fields. They are known as wild oats or oat-grasses. Those growing alongside cultivated oats in agricultural fields are considered nuisance weeds, as, being grasses like the crop, they are difficult to remove chemically; any standard

herbicide Herbicides (, ), also commonly known as weedkillers, are substances used to control undesired plants, also known as weeds.EPA. February 201Pesticides Industry. Sales and Usage 2006 and 2007: Market Estimates. Summary in press releasMain page fo ...

that would kill them would also damage the crop. A specific

must be used. The costs of this

and the length of time it must be used to reduce the weed are significant, with seeds able to lie dormant for up to 10 years. * '' Avena aemulans'' – European Russia * ''

Avena barbata ''Avena barbata'' is a species of wild oat known by the common name slender wild oat. It has edible seeds. It is a diploidized autotetraploid grass (2n=4x=28). Its diploid ancestors are ''A. hirtula'' Lag. and ''A. wiestii'' Steud (2n=2x=14), whi ...

'' – slender wild oat – from Portugal + Morocco to Tajikistan * '' Avena brevis'' – short oat – central + southern Europe * '' Avena chinensis'' – Germany, Austria; introduced in China, Belarus * '' Avena clauda'' – Balkans, Middle East, Central Asia * '' Avena eriantha'' – North Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, Caucasus * ''

Avena fatua ''Avena'' is a genus of Eurasian and African plants in the Poaceae, grass family. Collectively known as the oats, they include some species which have been cultivated for thousands of years as a food source for humans and livestock. They are w ...

'' – common wild oat – Europe, Asia, North Africa; naturalized in Australia, the Americas, various islands * '' Avena longiglumis'' – North Africa, Israel, Spain, Portugal, Sardinia * '' Avena maroccana'' – Moroccan oat – Morocco * ''

Avena murphyi ''Avena'' is a genus of Eurasian and African plants in the grass family. Collectively known as the oats, they include some species which have been cultivated for thousands of years as a food source for humans and livestock. They are widesprea ...

'' – Morocco, Spain * ''

Avena prostrata ''Avena'' is a genus of Eurasian and African plants in the grass family. Collectively known as the oats, they include some species which have been cultivated for thousands of years as a food source for humans and livestock. They are widespread ...

'' – Morocco, Spain * ''

Avena saxatilis ''Avena'' is a genus of Eurasian and African plants in the grass family. Collectively known as the oats, they include some species which have been cultivated for thousands of years as a food source for humans and livestock. They are widespread ...

'' – Sicily and small nearby islands * '' Avena sterilis'' – winter wild oat – Mediterranean, East Africa; temperate Asia; introduced in northern Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the Americas * ''

'' – Spain, France, Portugal; introduced in other parts of Europe as well as in scattered locations in Australia, New Zealand, the Americas * ''

Avena vaviloviana ''Avena'' is a genus of Eurasian and African plants in the grass family. Collectively known as the oats, they include some species which have been cultivated for thousands of years as a food source for humans and livestock. They are widespread ...

'' – Eritrea, Ethiopia * ''

Avena ventricosa ''Avena'' is a genus of Eurasian and African plants in the grass family. Collectively known as the oats, they include some species which have been cultivated for thousands of years as a food source for humans and livestock. They are widespread ...

'' – North Africa, Middle East * ''

Avena volgensis ''Avena'' is a genus of Eurasian and African plants in the grass family. Collectively known as the oats, they include some species which have been cultivated for thousands of years as a food source for humans and livestock. They are widesprea ...

'' – European Russia

Species formerly included

Hundreds of taxa have been included in ''Avena'' at one time in the past but are now considered better suited to other genera: ''

Agrostis ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species * '' Agrostis aequivalvi'' ...

'', ''

Aira ''Aira'' is a genus of Old World plants in the grass family, native to western and southern Europe, central and southwest Asia, plus Africa. The common name, shared with the similar related genera ''Deschampsia'' and ''Koeleria'', is hair-grass ...

'', ''

Ampelodesmos ''Ampelodesmos'' is a genus of Mediterranean plants in the grass family, which is known by the common names stramma, Mauritania grass, rope grass, and dis(s) grass. It is classified in its own tribe Ampelodesmeae within the grass subfamily Pooid ...

'', ''

Anisopogon ''Anisopogon'' is a genus of Australian plants in the grass family. The only known species is ''Anisopogon avenaceus'', native to Victoria and New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption ...

'', ''

Arrhenatherum ''Arrhenatherum'', commonly called oatgrass or button-grass, is a genus of Eurasian and North African plants in the grass family. Description Wild forms can resemble wild oat (''Avena'') or fescue (''Festuca''). Oatgrasses are very common pere ...

'', ''

Avenula ''Avenula'' is a genus of Eurasian flowering plants in the grass family. Over 100 names have been proposed for species, subspecies, varieties, and other infraspecific taxa within ''Avenula'', but only one species is accepted. The others names are ...

'', '' Bromus'', '' Calamagrostis'', '' Capeochloa'', '' Centropodia'', '' Corynephorus'', ''

Danthonia ''Danthonia'' is a genus of Eurasian, North African, and American plants in the grass family. Members of this genus are sometimes referred to as oatgrass, but that common name is not restricted to this genus. Other common names include heathgra ...

'', ''

Danthoniastrum ''Danthoniastrum'' is a genus of Balkan and Caucasian plants in the grass family. ; Species * '' Danthoniastrum brevidentatum'' H.Scholz - Kosovo, Albania * '' Danthoniastrum compactum'' (Boiss. & Heldr.) Holub - Greece * '' Danthoniastrum ko ...

'', ''

Deschampsia ''Deschampsia'' is a genus of plants in the grass family, commonly known as hair grass or tussock grass. The genus is widespread across many countries.

'', '' Festuca'', ''

Gaudinia ''Gaudinia'' is a genus of Mediterranean plants in the grass family. The genus name is a tribute to Swiss botanist Jean François Aimé Théophile Philippe Gaudin (1766-1833). ; Species * ''Gaudinia coarctata'' - Azores * ''Gaudinia fragilis'' ...

'', ''

Helictochloa ''Helictochloa'' is a genus of Eurasian, North African, and North American plants in the grass family. ; Species See also * List of Poaceae genera The true grasses ( Poaceae) are one of the largest plant families, with around 12,000 spec ...

'', ''

Helictotrichon ''Helictotrichon'', or alpine oatgrass, is a genus of perennial flowering plants in the grass family. The genus name comes from the Greek ''heliktos'' meaning twisted, and ''trichos'' meaning hair, referring to the shape of the awn. Most of the ...

'', '' Hierochloe'', ''

Lachnagrostis ''Lachnagrostis'' is a genus of African, Australian, Pacific Island, and South American plants in the grass family. They are often treated as members of genus ''Agrostis''. ; SpeciesRúgolo de Agrasar, Z. & A. M. Molina. 2002. El género ''Lachn ...

'', ''

Lolium ''Lolium'' is a genus of tufted grasses in the bluegrass subfamily (Pooideae). It is often called ryegrass, but this term is sometimes used to refer to grasses in other genera. They are characterized by bunch-like growth habits. ''Lolium'' is ...

'', '' Parapholis'', ''

Pentameris ''Pentameris'' is a genus of plants in the grass family, native primarily to Africa, with a few species in Yemen and on certain islands in the Indian Ocean. A significant number of species are endemic to South Africa.Linder, Hans Peter, et al. ...

'', '' Periballia'', '' Peyritschia'', ''

Rytidosperma ''Rytidosperma'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. Most of the species occur in Australasia, with a few in insular Southeast Asia, southern South America (Chile + Argentina), and certain islands of the Pacific (Hawaii + Easter Island).

'', '' Schizachne'', ''

Sphenopholis ''Sphenopholis'' is a genus of North American and Hawaiian plants in the grass family. They are known generally as wedgescales. ; Species * '' Sphenopholis filiformis'' - longleaf wedgescale - TX OK AR LA TN MS AL GA FL NC SC VA ...

'', '' Stipa'', ''

Stipagrostis ''Stipagrostis'' is a genus of African, Asian, and Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List ...

'', '' Tenaxia'', '' Tricholemma'', ''

Triraphis ''Triraphis'' is a genus of African, Arabian, Australian, and Brazilian plants in the grass family. Needlegrass is a common name for plants in this genus. ; Species * '' Triraphis andropogonoides'' (Steud.) E.Phillips, - South Africa, Botswana ...

'', ''

Trisetaria ''Trisetaria'' is a genus of plants in the grass family, native to Asia and to the Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: o ...

'', ''

Trisetum ''Trisetum'' is a genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biologica ...

'', '' Tristachya'' and ''

Ventenata ''Ventenata'' is a genus of plants in the grass family, native to Europe, North Africa, and central + southwest Asia. One species, ''Ventenata dubia'', is considered an invasive weed in many places. ; Species * ''Ventenata blanchei'' Boiss. - Le ...

''.

Sociolinguistics

"Sowing wild oats" is a phrase used since at least the 16th century; it appears in a 1542

tract Tract may refer to: Geography and real estate * Housing tract, an area of land that is subdivided into smaller individual lots * Land lot or tract, a section of land * Census tract, a geographic region defined for the purpose of taking a census ...

Thomas Beccon Thomas Beccon or Becon (c. 1511–1567) was an English cleric and Protestant reformer from Norfolk. Life Beccon was born c.1511 in Norfolk, England. He entered the University of Cambridge in March 1526-27, probably St John's College. He studi ...

, a Protestant clergyman from Norfolk. Apparently, a similar expression was used in Roman Republican times, possibly by Plautus. The origin of the expression is the fact that wild oats, notably ''A. fatua'', are a major weed in oat farming. Among European cereal grains, oats are hardest to tell apart from their weedy relatives, which look almost alike but yield little grain. The life cycle of ''A. fatua'' is nearly synchronous with that of common oat, and their relationship is an example of

Vavilovian mimicry In plant biology, Vavilovian mimicry (also crop mimicry or weed mimicry) is a form of mimicry in plants where a weed evolves to share one or more characteristics with a domesticated plant through generations of artificial selection. It is name ...

. Historically, growers could control the weed only by checking the crop plants one by one and hand-weeding. Consequently, "sowing wild oats" became a phrase to describe unprofitable activities. Given the reputation of oat grain to have invigorating properties and the obvious connection between plant seeds and human " seed", it is not surprising that the meaning of the phrase became a reference to the destructive sexual liaisons of an unmarried young male, which result in unwanted children born out of wedlock.Quinion, Michael (November 1999): World Wide Words
Sow one's wild oats
Retrieved 17 October 2007.

References

* {{Authority control Cereals Poaceae genera Grasses of Africa Grasses of Asia Grasses of Europe Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus