Avena

• Authority

  Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

• Family

  Poaceae

• Scientific Name

  Avena L.

• Description

  Genus Description - Spikelets 2–5-fld, articulated above the glumes and usually between the lemmas; rachilla often hirsute, at least at the base of the lemmas; glumes nearly equal, membranous or chartaceous, exceeding the lemmas, mostly 5–11-veined; lemmas indurate, tapering to an entire or often 2-toothed tip, firm below, often scarious distally, rounded on the back, obscurely 5–9-veined or prominently so distally; awn arising from the back of the lemma, often geniculate near the middle, or wanting; annuals with broad flat lvs and ample panicles of large, often nodding spikelets. As now limited, ca 15 spp. of Eurasia.

• Common Names

  oats