Avena* L.,. Sp. Pl. 79 (1753).
Derivation:.
The old Latin name for oats.
Taxonomic
revisions, nomenclatural references:. B.R.Baum, A monograph of the genus
Avena (1977).
Key references
(keys and floras):. G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7: 588(1878);
C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae 36–37 (1952);
M.Lazarides, Flora of Central Australia 433–434 (1981); J.C.Tothill and
J.B.Hacker, Grasses Southern Qld 122–123 (1983); B.K.Simon, Key to
Australian Grasses 75 (1993); J.P.Jessop, Flora of South Australia
4: 1910–1911 (1986); S.W.L.Jacobs and S.M.Hastings, Flora of New South Wales
4: 587–589 (1993); N.G.Walsh, Flora of Victoria 2: 449–451 (1994);
D.I.Morris, Student's Flora of Tasmania 4B: 236–238 (1994);
E.Edgar and H.E.Connor, Flora of New Zealand 5: 301–306 (2000); D.Sharp
and B.K.Simon, AusGrass (2002); J.P.Jessop, Grasses of South
Australia 205–209 (2006); S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales, 4th Ed, 161–164 (2008);A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of
Australia 44A: Poaceae 2: 122–126 (2009).
W.D.Clayton &
S.A.Renvoize, Genera Graminum (1986), genus (173).
Naturalised. 27
species, from Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa and western Asia. 6
species in Australia, WA, NT, SA, Qld, NSW, Vic, and Tas. Also Malesia and New
Zealand.
Habit. Annual,
tufted to decumbent. Leaf blades narrow or broad.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence paniculate, an open panicle with branches ending in single
spikelets, open.
Spikelets.
Spikelets laterally compressed, more than 2 flowered to 2 flowered, with 2 or
more fertile florets, awned, solitary, pedicelled; with naked rachilla
extension. Fertile spikelets disarticulating above glumes or not
disarticulating (cultivated forms).
Glumes. Glumes
more or less equal, about equal to spikelet or exceeding florets (rarely
shorter), long relative to adjacent lemmas, pointed, awnless, non-keeled,
similar (usually chaffy). Lower glume 3–11 nerved. Upper glume 3–11 nerved.
Florets.
Fertile florets (1–)2–6. Lemmas similar in texture to glumes (rarely) or
decidedly firmer than glumes (usually leathery to crustaceous), becoming
indurated to not becoming indurated, incised, muticous or awned, without a germination
flap, 5–9 nerved, hairy or glabrous. Awns when present 1, dorsal, geniculate,
much longer than body of lemma. Palea relatively long or conspicuous and
relatively short or very reduced (but large), entire to apically notched,
tough, 2 nerved. Distal incomplete florets 1–2, underdeveloped. Callus pointed
(lanceolate). Lodicules 2. Ovary hairy. Stamens 3. Grain medium sized,
longitudinally grooved, compressed dorsiventrally, hairy on body. Hilum
long-linear. Embryo small.
Kranz Anatomy.
C3.
2n = 14,
28, 42, 48, and 63, 2, 4, 6, 7, and 9 ploid, commonly adventive.
Habitat.
Mesophytic, xerophytic. Mostly in weedy places. Species of open habitats.
Classification.
Pooideae; Poeae.
Notes. A
uniform genus, varying mainly in lemma tip and mode of spikelet disarticulation
(Clayton & Renvoize, 1986).
Types Species. A.
sativa L.
Biogeographic
Element. Clifford & Simon 1981, Simon & Jacobs 1990: Naturalised.