Field Guide to Noxious and Other Selected Weeds of British Columbia
Wild Oats
(Avena fatua)
Provincial Noxious Weed
annual grass with hollow erect stems from 0.3 to 1 metre tall;
leaves of seedlings twist counter-clockwise when viewed from
above; yellow to black seeds with a a bent, twisted bristle (awn);
seeds with a circular scar (sucker mouth) at the base
seeds can remain viable in soil for over 10 years
cultivated oats lack the circular scar on the seed and either
lack an awn or the awn is straight
Heavily bearded flowers. Awns are twisted and bent at right
angles when mature
Base of leaf blades are slightly hairy
Photos courtesy of Dean Swan, Washington State University (retired)
