oats, in botany, a genus of the triandria digynia clas. The calix has a double valve; and the awn on the back is contorted. The species are 13, six of them natives of Britain; viz. 1. The nuda, or naked oats. 2. The fatua or bearded oat-gras. 3. The pratensis, or meadow oat-gras. 4. The pubescens, or rough oat-gras. 5. The elatior, or tall oat-gras. 6. The flavescens, or yellow oat-gras.

It is remarkable, that the native place of the sativa, or common oat, cultivated in our fields, is almost totally unknown. Anon says, that he observed it growing wild or spontaneously in the island of Juan Fernandez. But a vague observation from an author of that kind is not to be depended on.