Avena sterilis* L. Sp. Pl.
ed. 2: 118 (1762).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Poeae.
Recent synonyms:
A. ludoviciana, A. persica.
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (209 as supb. ludoviciana), [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
(124).
Illustrations:
[1984] N.T.Burbidge. rev. S.W.L.Jacobs, Australian Grasses (as A. ludoviciana), [2006] J.Jessop,
G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (209, Fig.156 as subsp. ludoviciana),
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (163), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A:
Poaceae 2 (109, Fig.16).
Habit. Annual.
Culms geniculately ascending or decumbent, 30–180 cm tall, 2–5 -noded. Leaves
mostly basal or basal and cauline or cauline. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 3–8
mm long, abaxially glabrous or abaxially hairy. Leaf-blades 8–60 cm long, 4–18
mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle pyramidal, effuse, 10–45 cm long,
5–25 cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1 or more flowered, with 1 fertile
floret (2–5), comprising 2–5 fertile floret(s), with a barren rachilla
extension, cuneate, laterally compressed, 23–50 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous,
without keels, 7–11 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 20–50 mm long, membranous,
without keels, 7–11 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 15–40 mm long, without keel, 7 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented.
Lemma apex dentate, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn dorsal, 30–80 mm
long overall, with a twisted column. Palea apex dentate. Anthers 3. Grain 11–12
mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia,
North America, and South America.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South
Wales, Victoria, Tasmania.
Western Australia:
Avon. South Australia: North-western, Lake Eyre, Northern Lofty, Yorke
Peninsula, Southern Lofty, South-eastern. Queensland: Burnett, Darling
Downs, Leichhardt, Moreton, North Kennedy, Port Curtis. New South Wales:
Central Coast. Victoria: Gippsland Plain, Lowan Mallee, Midlands, Murray
Mallee, Riverina, Volcanic Plain, Wimmera. Tasmania: East Coast.
Introduced. Native to
the Mediterranean. Weed of roadsides. Flowers Sept.-Dec. Fruits Sept.-Dec.-?.
N.S.W. Occasional weed of roadsides, bushland
and crops, occasionally grown for ornamental purposes. Flowers spring. Fruits
Sept.-Dec.-?.
