OATS 



,101 



the name Avena sterilis algeriensis. It is considered here 

 as a subspecies, like Avena saliva. 



The cultivated red oats show still the important char- 

 acteristic of A. sterilis, the basilar articulation. That is, 

 the second kernel does 

 not articulate at its 

 point of union with the 

 spikelet axis, as in A. 

 falua, but, on separa- 

 tion from the spikelet, 

 carries with it the axis 

 itself, differing in this 

 way from those of other 

 species as the emmer 

 spikelet differs from 

 the spelt spikelet. The 

 second kernel remains 

 attached for some time. 

 The caryopsis is a 

 little longer than in the 

 sativa and orientalis 

 groups. The lemma is 

 rather long, bristled at 

 the base, and is often 

 awned. There is great 

 variation in these char- 

 acters even in the in- 

 termediate wild forms, 

 while in the cultivated 

 varieties both bristles 

 and awns are much reduced and may be wanting. The 

 awns, when present, are not geniculate as in the wild 

 forms, and are only slightly twisted. The color of the 



FIG. 31. Spikelet of Rustproof oats, 

 showing both kernels, and the basal 

 bristles. 



