燕麦属（学名：Avena）的植物包括有燕麦（皮燕麦）、莜麦（裸燕麦）、野燕麦等品种，全世界大约有十种，主要分布在寒温带地区，性喜凉爽。一年生草本，根系发达。穗和其他麦类不同，向四周开散，分成许多小穗。籽粒缺麦胶，蛋白质含量较高，但单产很低。所以适宜在地广人稀的地区种植。用于牲畜饲料，人类也以此作为食品，秸杆也作为牲畜青饲料，主要用来为马、奶牛等需要精饲料的牲畜提供营养。

燕麦和小麦一样，也有冬麦和春麦不同的变种，有的春种秋收，有的秋种夏收。由于其不需要夏季高温，非常适合夏季凉爽的地区。普通燕麦喜好湿润，北欧和加拿大是普通燕麦的主要产区，甚至在冰岛也可以种植燕麦。莜麦更耐寒和干燥，是中国内蒙古高原和北部山区的主要谷类作物，这些地区因为夏季寒冷，只能种植马铃薯和莜麦。 野燕麦适应能力较强，分布区域较广，主要用做牧草。苏格兰是英国的燕麦主要产地，所以英格兰人因为看不起苏格兰人，有一句老俗语：“燕麦只配喂马和苏格兰人”，苏格兰人则反唇相讥：“最好的马出在英格兰，最好的男人出在苏格兰”。

Avena is a genus of Eurasian and African plants in the grass family. Collectively known as the oats, they include some species which have been cultivated for thousands of years as a food source for humans and livestock. They are widespread throughout Europe, Asia and northwest Africa. Several species have become naturalized in many parts of the world, and are regarded as invasive weeds where they compete with crop production. All oats have edible seeds, though they are small and hard to harvest in most species.