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)

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