Family: Poaceae
Avena sativa (common oat, oat) is a grass and cereal grain presumably native to southeastern Europe or western Asia, now cultivated throughout the world. Oats are commonly consumed as a cereal grain in the form of oatmeal or rolled oats. They are used to make oatmeal, porridge, muesli, and are a primary ingredient in many breakfast cereals. Oats can also be ground into oat flour for baking. The plant is reported to be naturalized on Maui, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island and is widely naturalized around the globe. Oats produce a significant number of seeds, and these seeds can remain viable in the soil for several years. Oats can also spread via wind and water, allowing them to colonize nearby habitats. The plant is relatively adaptable and can grow in a variety of soil types and climates. This adaptability can enable them to establish themselves in a wide range of conditions.
High Risk Traits:
- Broad climate suitability
- Naturalized on Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii (Hawaiian Islands) and elsewhere worldwide
- A disturbance-adapted weed that may impact agriculture and the natural environment (in Australia)
- Other Avena species are invasive weeds
- Allelopathic
- May cause photosensitization or nitrate poisoning under certain conditions
- Tolerates many soil types
- Reproduces by seeds
- Hybridizes with other Avena species
- Self-fertile
- Reaches maturity in one growing season
- Seeds dispersed as a produce and soil contaminant, by vehicles, animals, birds and possibly water, as well as through intentional cultivation
- Seeds can form a persistent seed bank
Low Risk Traits:
- Cultivated oats are domesticated and pose less risk of invasiveness than weedy races present elsewhere in the world
- Used as a palatable pasture species in the Hawaiian Islands, with no negative impacts reported, despite long history of cultivation
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Palatable
- Grows best in high light environments (dense shade may inhibit spread)
- Herbicides may provide effective control
