What are Oats?
Oats are cereal grains whose
origin can be traced back to about 2000 B.C. in the
Middle East, particularly the areas surrounding the
Mediterranean Sea. Some of the first evidence of oats
were found in Egypt and parts of Switzerland.
There are several species of oats, but only two
species are of significant commercial importance. 75%
of world oat production is of the avena sativa
species, while most of the remaining production is of
the avena byzantina species. The avena nuda species
may gain importance in the future because of its
hulless characteristics.
When mature, the oat plant is about thirty six inches
tall, and has several stalks per plant. The oat seeds
are covered with a thick hull (except avena nuda,
which is enclosed in a papery sheath). There are
normally up to four seeds per sheath, and the seeds
hang on very fine, wiry stems. There are many of the
seed sheaths per head, and the entire grain head can
be up to eight or ten inches long.
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