Avena sativa, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1980, Flora Europaea. Volume 5. Alismataceae to Orchidaceae (Monocotyledones), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press : 207

11. A. sativa L. , Sp. Pl. 79 (1753) .

Stems 40-140(-200) cm, glabrous. Leaves up to 45 cm x 3-15(-20) mm, scabridulous; ligule 3-5 mm. Panicle up to 25(-40) cm, patent or contracted and unilateral. Spikelets 17-30 mm, with 2-3 florets. Glumes subequal, 7- to 9-veined. Lemma 12-25 mm; apex emarginate or with very short teeth; lowest lemma usually awned, the others unawned; awn 15-40 mm, usually almost straight. Palea f as long as lemma. Rhachilla not disarticulating at maturity but breaking immediately below each floret; segments 2-5-3 mm. Cultivated as a cereal (pats) in much of Europe.

Many of the records of 11 from the Mediterranean region refer to 12.

1 Spikelets 25-30 mm; lemma usually sparsely hairy

(c) subsp. macrantha 1 Spikelets 17-25 mm; lemma glabrous

2 Lemma 15-20 mm (a) subsp. sativa 2 Lemma 12-15 mm (b) subsp. praegravis