Avena

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iAvena
Avena fatua (Common Wild Oat)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Poales Family: Poaceae Genus: Avena L.
Species
Avena abyssinica Avena barbata - Slender Wild Oat Avena brevis Avena fatua - Common Wild Oat Avena maroccana Avena nuda Avena occidentalis Avena pubescens - Downy Oat-grass Avena pratensis - Meadow Oat-grass Avena sativa - Oat Avena spicata Avena sterilis - Winter Wild Oat Avena strigosa - Bristle Oat

Avena is a genus of 10-15 species of grasses, native to Europe, Asia and northwest Africa.

One species, the Oat (A. sativa) is of major commercial importance as a cereal grain. Several of the other species are nuisance weeds in cereal crops, as, being grasses like the crop, they cannot be selectively removed; any herbicide that would kill them would also damage the crop.

Avena species, including cultivated oats, are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Rustic Shoulder-knot and Setaceous Hebrew Character.