A slender, bristle-like extension that grows from the seed head or husk of grains like wheat, barley, and oats.
From Old Norse 'ögn' meaning beard or bristle, related to Germanic roots. The word entered English through contact with Scandinavian peoples and became the standard botanical term.
Awns aren't just decorative—they're evolutionary engineering! They help seeds tumble and burrow into soil, and some species use hygroscopic (moisture-sensitive) awns that literally drill themselves into the ground.
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