299 Arrhenatherum elatius (L.) Beauv. ex J. & C. Presl

Syn.: Avena elatior L.

This polymorphic species is probably native to Europe, N. Africa and W. Asia. It is used as a fodder grass. Its further dispersal has been favoured by clearings in the rural landscape. It has been introduced into E. Asia, N. and S. America, Australia and New Zealand. The present distribution is incompletely circumpolar (Hultén, Circumpol. I, p. 216 and map 206). Cf. also Meusel et al. 1965, map p. 44.