The bearded oats is an annual grass with a broad Mediterranean-Turanian distribution, present in all regions of Italy except in the Valle d'Aosta, but more frequent south of the Po River. It grows in dry, often disturbed places, along the streets, on embankments, in gardens and cultivated fields, also in the periphery of large urban areas, below the montane belt. The species is sporadic in the outer belt of the Sardinian temporary ponds, especially in areas grazed by sheep. The genus name, the same used by the Romans, perhaps derives from the Sanskrit 'avasa' (food, fodder); the species name refers to the two bristles present on the lemma, which give the spikelet a bearded appearance. Flowering period: April to June.

Italian name(s): Aena (Sardegna), Aina lucirtara (Sicilia, Avola), Avena Barbata (Italia), Avena barbata (Italia), Ena (Sardegna), Ena salvatica (Sardegna), Fenaile (Sardegna, Bono), Fenu murru (Sardegna), Percia-saccu (Sicilia, Modica), Spiga murra (Sardegna, Orotelli), Tenetilichertas (Sardegna, Nuoro).