Oat grass (scientific name: Arrhenatherum elatius (L.) Presl) is a plant belonging to the genus Oats in the grass family, with strong roots. Culms upright or genus at base, 1-1.5 meters high, with 4-5 nodes. The leaf sheath is loose, smooth and hairless, shorter than or longer than the internodes at the base; the culm leaf tongue is membranous; the leaf blade is flat, rough or smooth underneath, 14-25 cm long and 3-9 mm wide. The panicles are loose, gray-green or slightly purple, and shiny. The thousand seeds weigh about 3 grams.
It is native to the Mediterranean coast and western Asia, and is introduced and cultivated in various countries in the world. China introduced it from Russia, Poland and other countries in the 1950s, and cultivated it in Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou and other provinces. Like a warm and humid climate, can withstand the summer heat; also more cold-resistant.
Oat grass is fodder and ornamental plant. When oatgrass is used for grazing, because of its slightly bitter taste, poor palatability, tall plants, thin stems, and more leaves, it is suitable for preparing hay after cutting. The crude protein is medium, the nitrogen-free extract is rich, and the crude fiber content is medium.