Wheat and oats are very common and important grains in crops, and they have many similarities in appearance, so it is difficult for many people to distinguish them. Next, I will tell you their differences from various aspects.

The difference between wheat and oats

In terms of species, barley and wheat belong to the wheat family, barley belongs to the barley genus, wheat belongs to the wheat genus, and oats belong to the oat family.

1, the difference between wheat, oats and wheat ears

Oat is one of the common wild wheat in wheat field (common wild wheat in wheat field includes naked oats, oats and brome). It competes with wheat for water and fertilizer, so it must be pulled out.

The difference between oats and wheat at maturity is clear at a glance, mainly in the ear difference of wheat. Oat ears are shaped like swallows' tails, so they are also called oats.

2. The difference between wheat and oats and leaves.

(1) Leaves and leaf sheaths: The leaves and leaf sheaths of wild oats are fluffy, which can be seen clearly when facing the sun. There is no hair on the leaves and leaf sheaths of wheat. Oat leaves grow anticlockwise, while wheat leaves grow clockwise. There is no contrast photo. I will take a supplementary photo later. The ligule is the ventral surface of the leaf, where it meets the leaf sheath, usually a membrane-like protrusion: the auricle is a pair of slight ear-like protrusions on both sides of the ligule, which extend from the base edge of the leaf and usually roll up the stem.

(2) Auricles: Oats have no auricles, but wheat has them.

3. How to tell in the wheat field

How can you tell the difference of wheat seedling stage? First, see if the wheat in the field grows evenly. If you find any leaves narrower than those of seedlings in the wheat field, they may be weeds. Then look at the leaves. Those fluffy ones without protrusions are oats. It is better to go to the fields more than to distinguish oats from wheat.

Supplementary knowledge: the use of both

Barley is generally the main raw material for brewing beer and also used as feed; Wheat is a common raw material for pasta products, such as bread and biscuits we usually eat; Because of its superior nutritional value, oats are much more widely used than barley and wheat, and can be used for cooking and porridge, and can be crushed into oatmeal.