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animated oat
Scientific Name: Avena sterilis
Family: Poaceae
Category: Monocot
Growth: Graminoid
Duration: Annual
Other Names:
Animated Oat (Avena sterilis)
The animated oat, scientifically known as Avena sterilis, is an annual grass recognized for its distinctive spikelets that twist and move upon exposure to moisture.
Common Names
- Animated oat
- Sterile oat
- Wild oat
- Wild red oat
- Winter wild oat
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Avena sterilis L.
- Family: Poaceae (Grass family)
- Synonyms:
- Avena ludoviciana Durieu
- Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana (Durieu) Gillet
Considerations for Pets
- This plant is a grass, and its seeds are edible.
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to the Mediterranean region.
- Found throughout California, except for the Sonoran Desert.
- Commonly found in disturbed ground.
Morphological Characteristics
- Annual grass growing up to 1 meter (3ft 3in) in height.
- Leaf-blades can reach up to 45 cm long and 4-18 mm wide.
- Has open-branched, nodding flower clusters.
Phenology
- Flowers from June to July.
- Seeds ripen from August.
- In some regions, flowering can occur from March to May.
Ecological Role
- Can be a weed in cereal crops like wheat, oats, and barley.
- Considered not native to California.
Quirky Facts
- The "animated" in Animated Oat comes from the hygroscopic movement of the spikelets as they twist in a lifelike manner when exposed to sudden moisture.
- Some consider the animated oat to be a progenitor of modern cultivated oats.
Further Information
- ARKive (for photos and facts)
- CalPhotos
- Flowers of Israel (Flora en Israel)