Oats

Avena sativa is an annual, light green plant from the sweet grass family (Poaceae) that grows up to 1.20 m tall. At the end of the stalk with its 15 to 30 cm long, loose panicles with mostly horizontally protruding branches hang 2 to 3 cm long spikes.

In medicine, dried oat fruits(Avenae fructus), which are also used as food, oat bran to lower cholesterol, as well as "oat straw"(Avenae stramentum) or oat herb(Avenae herba) are used.

Oats are cultivated worldwide as a food and animal feed crop. Oats are mainly used as food in the form of oat flakes.

Unlike other cereals, the grains do not grow in ears but hang in panicles.

Allergologically, oat pollen (see pollen below) only plays a subordinate role, as the plant is a self-pollinator and there is no significant pollen flight. Cross-reaction to grass pollen.

Oat flour has only a low gluten content(gluten). The flour can therefore only be used to a limited extent for making bread. However, oat flour can be important for a gluten-free diet in small quantities.

With regard to the cosmetological and allergological significance of oat proteins, see below Oat extracts.