23. Avena L. (oats)

(Baum, 1977)

Twenty to 25 species, Europe Asia, Africa.

Although taxa in Avena are relatively well defined, species limits in the genus remain somewhat controversial. In the most detailed analysis of morphological and cytogenetic data published thus far, Baum (1977) recognized 29 species, some of which have been treated as varieties or subspecies by taxonomically more conservative authors.