Common Wild Oat (Avena fatua)

 

Common Wild Oat

The common wild oat (Avena fatua) also spelled as wild-oat, is an annual herbaceous plant from the family of grasses (Poaceae) that can be found in fields and cultivated areas as well as in meadows or on bare soil. This species can be recognized by its nodding panicles of spikelets bearing long awns (long, hairlike appendages). The seeds have rust-colored bristles on their base.

The common wild oat can grow to heights of over one meter while the spikelets are about two centimeters long. In Central Europe, you can find half-ripe seeds from May until the end of June. Many pet birds enjoy feeding on them. The half-ripe seeds can also be frozen to preserve them for the winter.

You can find more photos of this species on NABU-naturgucker.de (German website, but also available in English language).

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German – English translation: Sarah Wiechers