OATS. 261 



drical, very hairy, yellow to brown in colour, with thin and 

 tender bran. 



Etheridge has classified the principal cultivated oats into 

 eight groups, given in the following outline : — 



A. Kernel loose within the surrounding hull; lemma and 

 glumes alike in texture — Ave^ia nuda. 

 AA. Kernel firmly clasped by the hull ; lemma and glumes 

 different in texture. 



B. Upper grains persistent to their rhachillas — Avena 

 sterilis. 

 BB. Upper grains easily separating from their rhachillas 

 C. Lemma extended as teeth or awn points. 



J). Lemma with four teeth or awn points — 

 Avena ahyssinica. 

 DD. Lemma with two teeth or awn points. 



E. Lemma elongate, lanceolate, with dis- 

 tinct awn points — Avena strigosa. 

 EE. Lemma short, abrupt, blunt, rather 

 toothed than awn pointed — Avena 

 hrevis. 



CC. Lemma without teeth or awn points. 



D. Basilar connections of the grains articulate 

 — Avena fatiia. 



DD. Basilar connections of the grains solidified. 

 E. Panicles roughly equilateral, spreading 

 Aveyia saliva. 

 EE. Panicles unilateral, appressed — Avena 

 saliva orientaUs. 



Arena nuda (HuUess Oats) is grown very little in South 

 Africa and elsewhere. The caryopsis is freed in threshing and 

 is usually larger than in common or side oats. The panicle 

 may be of the spreading or mane types. The yields are small 

 and the keeping qualities of the grain are poor. It is grown 

 more as a novelty than as a commercial commodity. 



Avena sterilis (Red or Algerian Oats). — The upper grains 

 carry with them a part of their rhachillas. The colour of the 

 hull varies from pale red-brown to black, and the caryopsis is 

 more elongated than most of the other cultivated forms. 



Examples : Algerian Oats, Ruakura, Eed Rust-proof and 

 Burt. 



