Oat, Avena sativa L., is a true grain since it is from the grass family. Oats originated and thus grow further north than other grains, but can be grown in Alabama. The English considered oats to be a food fit only for horses and Scotchmen, therefore, the Scotch retorted that England had the best horses and Scotland had the best men. Now oats are used in lots of items that are considered health food such as granola. Oats have the highest fat percentage of any grain as well as soluble fiber that reportedly helps block the absorption of cholesterol. The fat content the high energy density makes oats the one of the best things to take hiking whether it be in the form of granola, or instant breakfast cereal where all that is need is hot water and a spoon where the only thing to pack out is the wrapper thus saving the weight of a bowl plus the time to clean it. Although there are no native species in the genus Avena L. there are few native and/or ornamental grasses that are called oats, including seaoats, Uniola paniculata L.; river.wood oats, Chasmanthium latifolium (Michx.) Yates; and poverty oatgrass,