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Genus: Avena (oats genus) Life
> eukaryotes >
Archaeoplastida >
Chloroplastida
>
Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants)
> Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants)
> Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering
plants) > Monocotyledons > Order: Poales
> Family: Poaceae
There are about 25 species worldwide (native to
the Mediterranean and Middle East) of which five have been introduced to
southern Africa and become naturalised, including
Avena sativa
(Oats), which is cultivated for the production of oats, the primary
ingredient of porridge.
Species naturalised in southern Africa
List from
Plants
of Southern Africa - an Online Checklist (SANBI) and
Flora of Zimbabwe.
Avena barbata |
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Avena byzantina |
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Avena fatua |
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Avena
sativa (oats) Oat plants were domesticated in Europe, as late as 1000-2000
BC and now is cultivated worldwide, including southern Africa. Oats is a healthy cereal because it contains high protein levels,
antioxidants and a substance that reduces blood cholestrol, blood pressure and
blood sugar levels. |
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Avena sterilis |
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Other species, cultivated in southern Africa
From Glen (2002).
Avena nuda (Naked oats)
Native to Europe. |
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Publications
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Fish, L. 2003. Poaceae. In Germishuizen, G. & Meyer, N.L.
(eds), Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14:
1152-1194. National Botanical
Institute, Pretoria.
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Glen, H.F. 2002. Cultivated Plants of
Southern Africa. Jacana, Johannesburg.
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