The species is widely distributed in Europe and bas become naturalized in California. It is not grown as a grain crop. A. abyssinica Hochst. This oat is similar in habit to the desert oat, A. wiestii , but differs in chromosome number. Stems are erect, rather small and fairly stiff.
Panicles are equilateral, medium sized, very drooping.
This species is grown to some extent in Abyssinia but not in the United States. This species is now widely distributed throughout temperate regions and is a troublesome weed in Northern States and in Canada. The plant resembles the common oat, A. sativa L., but is of greater vigor. Panicles are very large and drooping. The spikelets carry long twisted awns and separate from their pedicels by abscission, dropping when ripe.