naked oat; hulless oat; Avena nuda
Meanings
2 senses · 4 examplesnoun
naked oat; hulless oat (Avena nuda), an annual herbaceous plant and a variety of oat with many florets in spikelets
Known as 'naked' or 'hulless' oat because the seeds thresh free from the hulls when mature. Mainly cultivated in northern China, especially in Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Hebei, and Gansu. Also written as 油麦.
Naked oats are mainly cultivated in northern and northwestern China.
Naked oats have a relatively short growing period, making them suitable for cultivation in high-altitude cold regions.
noun
the grain or seeds of the naked oat; hulless oat grain
The grains are ground into flour (莜面) to make various traditional foods, especially in Shanxi and Inner Mongolia. Note that 油麦 can also refer to Indian lettuce (油麦菜), so context is important.
Naked oats can be ground into flour to make various noodle dishes.
Steamed oat flour buns made with naked oats are a traditional delicacy of Shanxi.