AbstractLeaf wax of oats (Kelsey variety) consists of hydrocarbons (5%), esters (10%), free alcohols (45%), free acids (2.5%), β‐diketone (5.5%), hydroxy‐β‐diketones (2.5%), and unidentified (29%). Wax on leaf blades contains more free alcohols than wax on leaf sheaths, and wax on the flag leaf sheath contains more β‐diketone than wax on the rest of the plant. Principal hydrocarbons are C29, C31, and C33. The esters, mainly C44–C48 and C52, are probably C18–C22 and C26 esters of hexacosanol. Free alcohols are almost entirely hexacosanol. The β‐diketone is hentriacontane‐14, 16‐dione. Hydroxy β‐diketones are a mixture of 5‐, 6‐ and 7‐hydroxyhentriacontane‐14, 16‐diones in the proportions 58∶35∶7. The wax also contains a small amount (0.5%) of 1,16‐hexacosanediol.