Common Name: Wild Oats

Latin Name: Grass Poaceae

Wild Oats are an annual weed that can be found in crop land, hay fields and irrigation. Unlike grasses, wild oats have a counter clockwise twist to the leaves. Other easily distinguishable features include a tall, membranous lingual, and an easy to recognize seed when uprooted.

When mature, the inflorescence (flowering part of the plant) is very large and often seen waving above the crop canopy. The seeds vary color from beige to black, and they are usually hairy, especially around the base. All wild oat seeds have a large ‘sucker mouth’ and bent awn.

From Amanda Homans, Agronomist with McRae Holdings.