oats

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• cultivated oats
• naked oats
• Cultivated Oat
• Oat
• red oat
• side oat
• tree oat
• Common Oat
• Common Oats
• Sativa Oats

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Avena sativa var. trisperma
• Avena sterilis subsp. pseudosativa
• Avena sativa f. arundinacea
• Avena transiens
• Avena sativa subsp. orientalis
• Avena sativa var. semiaristata
• Avena sativa var. rufa
• Avena orientalis var. arundinacea
• Avena orientalis var. fuscoatra
• Avena sativa var. hyemalis
• Avena trisperma
• Avena algeriensis
• Avena fatua var. transiens
• Avena sativa var. rubella
• Avena orientalis subsp. mutica
• Avena sativa var. nigra
• Avena orientalis var. nuda
• Avena sativa var. contracta
• Avena praecoqua
• Avena sativa var. erythrosperma
• Avena racemosa
• Avena sativa subsp. orientalis
• Avena sativa var. vulgaris
• Avena sterilis subsp. nodipubescens
• Avena pseudosativa
• Avena sativa var. aurea
• Avena sativa var. mutica
• Avena sativa var. degener
• Avena sativa subsp. orientalis
• Avena sativa var. alba
• Avena sativa var. praecox
• Avena sativa subsp. aristata
• Avena sativa subsp. praegravis
• Avena sativa var. alba
• Avena sativa var. montana
• Avena sativa var. fuscoatra
• Avena sativa var. brachytricha
• Avena sativa var. uniflora
• Avena sativa var. nigra
• Avena sativa subsp. macrantha
• Avena sativa subsp. diffusa
• Avena sativa var. fusca
• Avena sativa subsp. nodipilosa
• Avena sativa subsp. contracta
• Avena sativa var. aristata
• Avena sativa var. obtusata
• Avena sativa convar. nodipilosa
• Avena sativa var. pugnax
• Avena sativa proles grandiuscula
• Avena sativa var. tristis
• Avena sativa var. flavescens
• Avena sativa var. fuscoatra
• Avena sativa var. glaberrima
• Avena sativa var. arduennensis
• Avena sativa subvar. pilosa
• Avena sativa var. fusciflora
• Avena sativa var. macrantha
• Avena sativa var. macrathera
• Avena sativa var. macrotricha
• Avena sativa var. microtricha
• Avena sativa var. nigra
• Avena sativa var. abbreviata
• Avena praecocioides
• Avena polonica
• Avena praegravis
• Avena sativa convar. orientalis
• Avena sativa var. pilifera
• Avena sativa var. pilosa
• Avena sativa var. praegravis
• Avena sativa var. setulosa
• Avena sativa var. secunda
• Avena sativa var. subuniflora
• Avena sexflora
• Avena shatilowiana
• Avena sterilis f. pseudosativa
• Avena tatarica
• Avena sterilis var. algeriensis
• Avena sterilis var. thellungiana
• Avena thellungii
• Avena trabutiana
• Avena verna
• Avena byzantina var. thellungiana
• Avena agraria var. mutica
• Avena mutata
• Avena orientalis
• Avena orientalis var. flavescens
• Avena nodipilosa
• Avena mutica
• Avena macrantha
• Avena heteromalla
• Avena grandis
• Avena geogica
• Avena glabrata
• Avena fatua f. glaberrima
• Avena fatua var. sativa
• Avena fatua var. subuniflora
• Avena fatua var. pilifera
• Avena fatua var. macrotricha
• Avena fatua var. microtricha
• Avena fatua var. glaberrima
• Avena fatua var. contracta
• Avena distans
• Avena fatua f. brachytricha
• Avena fatua f. macrathera
• Avena fatua f. setulosa
• Avena fatua subsp. macrantha
• Avena fatua subsp. nodipilosa
• Avena fatua subsp. praegravis
• Avena fatua subsp. sativa
• Avena orientalis var. mutica

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Avena sativa, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified within the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling under the order Poales. Finally, it is a member of the family Poaceae and is identified by the genus Avena.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Avena sativa, exhibits a specific distribution across several regions in Northern Europe. It can be found growing within the borders of Denmark. The species is also established in the territories of Finland and Great Britain. Additionally, its presence extends to the island nation of Iceland. Finally, this medicinal plant is widely distributed throughout Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Avena sativa is characterized by its ability to inhabit a broad altitudinal spectrum, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to elevations of 3000 m AMSL. It is frequently found in anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica) and open field environments (Campo Limpo), where it thrives in disturbed or managed landscapes.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Campo Limpo

Life history

The life history of Avena sativa is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire developmental cycle—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season. In terms of its botanical life form, the species is categorized as a therophyte, a strategy where the plant survives unfavorable environmental conditions primarily through highly resilient seeds rather than persistent vegetative structures. This therophytic nature allows it to rapidly colonize available niches, utilizing its seasonal growth period to maximize biomass and reproductive output before the onset of dormancy.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Avena sativa is characterized by a graminoid growth form, specifically functioning as a non-woody herb. This terrestrial plant is independent and does not exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behaviors, maintaining a self-supporting structure with an ascending shoot orientation. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches an average height of approximately 0.85 meters, though individual specimens can vary significantly, ranging from a minimum height of 0.6 meters to a maximum of 1.6 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.6 m

Plant height mean:

0.846666666666667 m

Plant height min:

0.6 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Avena sativa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy that dictates its carbon fixation processes and environmental adaptations. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies entirely on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than trapping prey. Its vegetative morphology is defined by elongated, narrow leaves, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 20 cm to a maximum of 45 cm. These leaves exhibit a mean width of 1.1 cm, though they can fluctuate between a minimum of 0.5 cm and a maximum of 2 cm. The leaf surface area is relatively specialized, with a mean leaf size of 43.445 cm² and a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 206.8 cm²/g, reflecting the plant's resource allocation strategy regarding leaf thickness and light interception efficiency.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

45 cm

Leaf length min:

20 cm

Leaf size mean:

43.445 cm²

Leaf width max:

2 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.1 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

206.8 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Avena sativa is characterized by a sexual process involving a panicle inflorescence that typically ranges in length from 0.15 m to 0.3 m. The flowering period generally commences in June and concludes in August. As an abiotic pollination specialist, the plant relies on wind as its primary pollination syndrome to facilitate fertilization, though it also exhibits the presence of self-fertilization. Asexual reproduction is absent in this species. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces dry fruits containing seeds with highly consistent dimensions: the seeds maintain a mean length of 6 mm, a mean width of 2.2 mm, and a mean volume of 32 mm³. The seed mass varies from a minimum of 0.005653 g to a maximum of 0.0392 g, with an overall mean mass of approximately 0.028530606 g. Dispersal is achieved through both zoochorous and anthropochorous syndromes, allowing the seeds to spread via animals and human activity.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit dryness :

dry

Inflorescence :

panicle

Inflorescence length max:

0.3 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.15 m

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length mean:

6 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0392 g

Seed mass mean:

0.028530606 g

Seed mass min:

0.005653 g

Seed volume max:

32 mm³

Seed width mean:

2.2 mm

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Avena sativa has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Archives of Razi Institute

Chemicals

Avena sativa has 214 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, LIGNIN, putrescine, spermidine, spermine.

Flavonoids

1. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition
2. Archives of Razi Institute
3. Bosnian journal of basic medical sciences
4. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

LIGNIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Astrophysical letters & communications
3. Advances in space research : the official journal of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR)

putrescine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant physiology
3. Archiv fur Tierernahrung

spermidine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant physiology
3. Archiv fur Tierernahrung

spermine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant physiology
3. Archiv fur Tierernahrung

AMYLOSE

1. International journal of biological macromolecules
2. Carbohydrate research

CHLOROPHYLL B

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biology

Carotenoids

1. Biology
2. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

ERGOTHIONEINE

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of medicinal mushrooms

FAT

1. Dr. Duke
2. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Avena sativa has 700 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Antispasmodic, Antitumor, Anxiolytic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition
3. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Antispasmodic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Anxiolytic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in veterinary science

Chemopreventive

1. Dr. Duke
2. PloS one

Diuretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Hypocholesterolemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. The American journal of clinical nutrition

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Avena sativa has 23 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include obesity, acne vulgaris, acute pancreatitis, aging, antioxidant.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations