Avena sativa*

Avena sativa* L. Sp. Pl.
79 (1753).

Classification. (GPWG
2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Poeae.

Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information
: LT: Herb. Clifford. 25, Avena 1, (BM). LT
designated by Baum, Taxon 23: 579–583 (1974).

Key references
(books and floras):
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (37), [1981] M.Lazarides in J.Jessop (ed)., Flora of
Central Australia
(434), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass,
Grasses of Australia
, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses
of South Australia
(208), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley &
D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (163), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora
of Australia
, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (123).

Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia  (208, Fig. 155), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley
& D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (163).

Habit. Annual.
Culms erect, 25–125(–180) cm tall. Leaves cauline. Ligule an eciliate membrane,
3–6 mm long, abaxially glabrous or abaxially hairy. Leaf-blades 8–45 cm long,
3–14(–25) mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.

Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle pyramidal, effuse, 6–40 cm long,
5–15 cm wide.

Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1 or more flowered, with 1 fertile
floret ((1-)2–3), comprising (1–)2–3 fertile floret(s), with a barren rachilla
extension, cuneate, laterally compressed, 18–32 mm long.

Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous,
without keels, (7–)8–11 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 22–32 mm long,
membranous, without keels, (7–)10–12 -nerved.

Florets.
Fertile lemma 15–23 mm long, without keel, 7–9 -nerved. Lemma surface glabrous.
Lemma apex dentate, muticous or awned, 0–1 -awned. Median (principal) awn
dorsal, 15–40 mm long overall, with a twisted column. Palea apex dentate or
lobed. Anthers 3.

Continental
Distribution
: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia,
Pacific, North America, South America, and Antarctica.

Australian
Distribution
: Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South
Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Lord Howe.

Western Australia:
Drummond, Dale, Menzies, Avon. South Australia: North-western, Lake
Eyre, Nullabor, Gairdner-Torrens Basin, Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula,
Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island,
South-eastern. Queensland: Burnett, Moreton, Port Curtis, Warrego. New
South Wales
: Central Coast, Northern Tablelands, Central Tablelands,
Central-Western Slopes, South-Western Slopes. Victoria: East Gippsland,
Eastern Highlands, Gippsland Highlands, Gippsland Plain, Grampians, Lowan
Mallee, Midlands, Murray Mallee, Otway Plain, Otway Range, Wilsons Promontory,
Riverina, Snowfields, Volcanic Plain, Wannon, Wimmera. Tasmania: No
region given.

Notes.
Widely cultivated in temperate regions as a cereal crop or for forage.

Introduced.
All states and territories except the N.T., also on Lord Howe Is. Native of
Europe. Common on roadsides as an escape from cultivation. Flowers Sept.-May.

 

AVH 2011

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith