AVKNK.E. 385 



161 (1S41). J. Jainif/iiinm (lilib. Exorcit. '3: H.^O (1700). A. 

 sferilis Dulilc. lioiss. Fl. Orient. 5:543 (1807). 



An erect glabrous annuiil, 00-100 cm. lii^'li. Leuf-bliwlos flat, 

 long and broad, s(!al)rou8. Panicle 20-35 cm. long, loose, with fili- 

 form unequal |)e(licels. Spikelels 2-3-tlowered, drooping: empty 

 glumes ovate-laiuieolate, about 2.5 cm. long, with 9 prominent 

 nerves; floral glume 0-nerved, firm, rough, brown, thinly bairy, tlic 

 longest glume less than 2 cm. long, 7 mm. wide, awn from near the 

 middle 3—4 cm. long, with several firm twists, abruptly bent near 

 the middle; palea 14 mm. long, 3 mm. wide, the nerves clothed 

 with very short diverging hairs. Grain hairy, much like that of 

 A. barhata, which see. 



We have this species from Minnesota, Oregon, California, where 

 it has been introduced. It is probably native to the eastern Afedi- 

 terranean region and is a weed in cultivated fields of Euroi)e, 

 Australia, South America. In ('alifornia it is often cut while 

 young for making hay. The late Professor J. Huckman of Eng- 

 land continued experiments from 1851 to 1800 and succeeded in 

 inducing this species to so change, that he obtained what were 

 called good samples of two sorts of oats, the Potato and the Tar- 

 tarian. 



V\im\ this we conclude that our cultivated races of oats have 

 descended from A. fafna. 



7. A. SATiVA L. Sp. PI. 79 (1753). CoMMo>f Oats. A. 

 aiif/Iira Ilort. R. & S. Syst. 2:009 (1817). A. dispeniiis M\]]. 

 (Junl. Diet. Ed. 8, n. 1 (1708). A.fiism Ard. Saggi Ace. Padov. 

 3:/. 4 (1:89). .1. llcorfiiaiia W. & S. Syst. 3 : 009 (1817). A. 

 f/enrffira Zuccag. l?oem. Collect. 120. A. trixperma Auct. T?. & S. 

 Syst. 2: 009 (1817). A. cinerea Auct. R. & S. Syst. 2:009 (1817). 

 A. Jhtra Hort. IJ. it S. Syst. 2:009 (1817). A. rubra Zuccagni, 

 Rocm. Collect. 120. 



A stout annual, 00-120 cm. high. Panicle 20-30 cm. long, 

 erect, spreading equally in all directions. Spikelets 2-3-flowered, 

 nodding, empty glumes 9-11-nerved, 2-2.5 cm. long; floral glumo 

 7-nerved, about 2 cm. long, nearly destitute of hairs, light or dark 

 colored, awn short or none. 



