Oats, past and present
By Chelsie Vandaveer
March 23, 2004
Suggested Reading: Click here.
Assorted Killer Savings Garden Links—>Click here.
Killer Picks: Point 'n View 8x32 Binocular & Digital Camera—>Click here.
Discovery Reclining UV Canopy Chair, Portable Hammock—>Click here.
Grundig Hand Crank Emergency Radio with Weather Alert—>Click here.
Backpack Cooler, 1,001 Natural Wonders You Must See Before You Die Book—>Click here.
Oats are annual grasses. Usually planted in the spring, they grow, flower, and produce seeds before dying in the autumn. Oat or oats refers to both the plants and their seeds. Oats belong to the genus Avena and, depending upon the authority, there are anywhere from "13 species and subspecies" (Technical Bulletin 1100, National Agricultural Library, USDA, 1955) to "fewer than fifty species" (Hortus Third, L.H. Bailey Hortorium, 1976). Oats are problematic; their history is obscure and the number of varieties makes determining genetic relationships difficult.
Oats were known to the ancient civilizations; oat caryopses (seeds of grasses) found in Egyptian tombs date to the Middle Kingdom (2050 to 1800 BCE). Apparently oats were not an important cereal to the ancients, but persisted as weeds in fields of barley or wheat. Oats did not become an important food crop in Europe until the rise of Christianity.
("Origin, History, and Uses of Oat (Avena sativa) and Wheat (Triticum aestivum)", Lance Gibson and Garren Benson, Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, 2002)
Aside from oats use as animal fodder, the grain became a base for porridge (oatmeal). The straw was used as bedding (animals and people) and retained enough nutrition that oat straw doubled as hay for cattle when winters were cold and lean.
The oat generally considered the source of rolled oats and oat flour is Avena sativa Linnaeus. Oats are a base for breakfast cereals, oat flour is in bakery items, and is a substitute grain for people suffering from wheat gluten allergies or who need to reduce their low density lipoprotein ("bad cholesterol") levels. Oats contain antioxidants, avenanthramides. The grain stores for long periods without spoiling and as a food additive, stabilizes diary products.
The hulls and waste products of oats are not wasted. The dried material is rich in pentoses, 5 carbon sugars. The sugars, hydrolyzed, are one source of furfural (furaldehyde), an oily solvent with a faint odor of almonds. Furfural is an intermediate chemical used in the refining of lubricant oils and rosins, the manufacture of shoe dyes, herbicides, fungicides, soil fumigants, and the production of nylon. ("Furfural", Westpro Company)
Den Virtuella Floran has posted an article (in Swedish) and photographs of oats taken by Arne and Anna-Lena Anderberg. To view the page, click on the link:
http://linnaeus.nrm.se/flora/mono/poa/avena/avensat.html
Click on the thumbnails to enlarge the images of oats.
Suggested Reading:
What is an animated oat? Weird Plants - April 8, 2004
Why is this ancient grain making a comeback? Plants that Changed History - September 7, 2004
What is gruel? Herbal Folklore - April 19, 2004
What is a wheat berry? Weird Plants - October 9, 2003
Who was Ceres? What's in a Name? - April 16, 2004
Why did Linnaeus name the wheats Triticum? What's in a Name? - September 14, 2001
Killer Savings Links:
Breck's Bulbs -$25 off—>Click here.
Gurney's Seed and Nursery -$20 off—>Click here.
Henry Fields Seed and Nursery -$20 off—>Click here.
Spring Hill Nursery -$20 off—>Click here.
Gardens Alive! -$20 off—>Click here.
Michigan Bulb -$20 off—>Click here.
Unique Professionally Designed Gardens
Springhill Nursery®
Spring Hill Nursery has unique gardens professionally designed by experts to take the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are looking for a three season garden, foundation garden, or a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, Spring Hill Nursery has created a step-by-step design just for you.
Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!
|
|
Features:
- 8x digital zoom to magnify and capture images with digital camera
- 1.5" LCD color screen flips for viewing camera images
- 32 MB internal memory
- Plays up to 2 minutes of continuous video
- Easily download the images to your PC
- Ideal for sporting events, concerts, outdoor activities and nature explorations
Includes:
- USB cabley
- Photo Editing Software
- Carrying case
- Neckstrap
- 1-year warranty
This binocular/camera unit is always in focus, so you never need to make adjustments to take great shots.
Point 'n View 8x32 Binocular & Digital Camera, Click here.
|
|
- Portable beach chair with removable sun canopy
- Reclines 20 degrees
- Lightweight and converts to backpack for portability
- Canopy provide 94% UV protection
- Armrests convert to shoulder straps
- Includes adjustable headrest
- Built-in cup holder
- Supports up to 250 lbs
With its folding, five-foot V canopy, you'll be protected from harmful sun rays, all while blissfully lounging outdoors.
Discovery Reclining UV Canopy Chair, Click here.
|
|
- Over 8 feet long
- Folds to compact size
- 2 shoulder straps for easy carrying
- Sets up in seconds
- Includes cup holder, book holder and inflatable pillow
- Ultra-strong steel frames
- Maximum suggested weight: 250 lbs
No matter what place you choose, you'll find nature is more beautiful and relaxing when enjoyed from the comfort of your own private, portable hammock.
Discovery Deluxe Portable Hammock, Click here.
|
|
|
Features:
- AM/FM radio with built-in antenna
- Seven NOAA weather channels plus "weather alert"
- TV VHF channels 2-13 (audio only)
- Hand-crank power generator
- Built-in cell phone charger, flashlight and emergency siren
- Rugged, splash-proof ABS body
- 1 year manufacturer's warranty
You can even tune into VHF channels 2 to 13, so you can listen to your favorite TV shows when you're away from the set. And with access to all seven NOAA weather channels and an emergency weather alert, you'll always be prepared for what nature has in store.
Grundig Hand Crank Emergency Radio with Weather Alert, Click here.
|
|
- Dual hot-cold insulated compartment
- Roll or carry with backpack straps
- Pop-up handle lets cooler roll like a suitcase
- Separate top compartment keeps food cool and dry
- Front zipper pocket for valuables or non-food items
- Side mesh pockets for more storage
- Holds three six-packs of 12-oz. cans
Load this roomy cooler with food and drinks, then roll it to your destination – the perfect outdoor accessory.
Discovery Rolling Backpack Cooler, Click here.
|
|
- 1,001 of nature's most heart-stirring creations
- The most detailed and comprehensive guide of its kind
- Spans every continent and ocean on the planet
- Packed with information about the creation, location and spectacle of each phenomenon
- Hundreds of full-color photographs
- Written by Michael Bright, executive producer with the BBC's Natural History Unit
From the magnificent Angel Falls in the Venezuelan rain forest to the fiery volcanic Mediterranean island of Stromboli, witness nature at its most amazing.
1,001 Natural Wonders You Must See Before You Die Book, Click here.
|
| |
killerplants Recommended Smart Stores
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 BACK TO TOP
|
|
