Avena sativa L.
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Description
Avena sativa is an annual herbaceous grass, usually 60–150 cm tall, with an erect, hollow, and cylindrical culm. The stems are smooth, usually unbranched, and composed of distinct nodes and internodes. The plant develops a fibrous root system with numerous adventitious roots. Leaves are linear, alternate, and distichously arranged, consisting of a sheath, ligule, and blade. Leaf blades are typically 15–45 cm long and 5–15 mm wide, flat, soft, and bright green. The leaf sheath surrounds the stem, and the ligule is membranous and prominent; auricles are absent. The inflorescence is a loose open panicle, usually 15–30 cm long, with spreading branches. Spikelets are large, laterally compressed, and contain 2–3 florets enclosed by two glumes. Each floret has lemma and palea; lemmas may possess a dorsal awn. Flowers are small, bisexual, and wind-pollinated. The fruit is a caryopsis (grain), elongated and enclosed within the lemma and palea. Seeds are rich in starch, proteins, lipids, and dietary fibre.
Diagnostic Characters
Distribution
Native range: Originated from Mediterranean region, Near Eastern agricultural centres.
In Pakistan: Cultivated worldwide including Europe, Asia, North America, Australia. In Pakistan cultivated, Northern mountainous regions.
Phenology
Ethnobotany & Uses
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Where it grows on campus
Taxonomic Notes
Avena sativa belongs to the grass family Poaceae, characterized by Culms with hollow internodes, Parallel-veined leaves, Spikelet-based inflorescences, Caryopsis fruits. It differs from related oat species by Large open panicle, Cultivated annual habit.