AVENA, OATS; a genus of the digynia order, belonging to the triandria class of plants. Of this genus Linnaeus enumerates 16 species, of which none deserve notice, except that which is commonly known and cultivated for grain; for a particular account of the culture of which, see AGRICULTURE, no 116, 117.—Oats are an article of the Materia Medica. Gruels made from them have a kind of soft mucilaginous quality; by which they obtund acrimonious humours, and prove useful in inflammatory diseases, coughs, hoarseness, and exulcerations of the fauces.