European Millet
Panicum miliaceum

Family: Poaceae or Gramineae

What it is like

Panicum miliaceum is a ANNUAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in flower from July to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 1

Where it is found

Waste places in Britain.

Probably eastern Asia, but it has been in cultivation so long that the original range is obscure.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Albania, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Botswana, Britain, Bulgaria, Burma, Canada, Central Africa, China, Congo, Cyprus, Czech Republic, East Africa, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Europe, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guiana, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kyrgyrstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malawi, Manchuria, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Niger, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Siberia, Slovakia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, West Africa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

How it is used

Food

Rating: 3

Seed - cooked as a whole grain or ground into a powder and used as a flour for making breads, pasta and fermented foods such as 'tempeh'. A nutty flavour, it is more easily digested than many cereals because its high alkaline content counteracts acids. It is also free of gluten and so, although bread made from it does not rise, the cereal is suitable for people with coeliacs disease or other gluten intolerances. The seed can also be sprouted and added to salads, soups etc. The seed contains about 10% protein, 4% fat.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicine

Rating: 2

The seed is cooling and demulcent. The cooked seed is applied as a poultice for abscesses, sores etc whilst juice from chewed seeds is applied to children's sores. The seed is also incinerated and mixed with oil then used as a poultice that is said to heal sores without leaving a scar. A decoction of the root is used as an antidote to poisoning by Momordica spp, it is also used to treat haematuria in women and as a bath for skin eruptions.

Demulcent: Soothes, lubricates and softens irritated tissues, especially the mucous membranes.

Poultice: A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.

Refrigerant: Cools the body.

Other

Rating: 2

A starch from the seed is a substitute for corn starch (Zea mays). It is used for sizing textiles. The leaves are a source of fibre used in paper making.

Fibre: Used for making cloth, rope, paper etc.

Sandpaper: Plants used to smooth rough wooden surfaces by means of abrasion.

How it is grown

Requires a moderately fertile well-drained soil in full sun. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil. Tolerates heat and also drought when it is established. European millet is frequently cultivated in warm temperate and sub-tropical zones for its edible seed, there are many named varieties. Cultivation in Britain is somewhat problematic, the plants require good summers to do well and a dry period in late summer is required in order to ripen and dry the seed. We have had fairly good results on our trial grounds in Cornwall by starting the seed off early in a greenhouse, though this is a fairly labour-intensive method and therefore much less efficient than growing the more traditional temperate zone cereals. Yields are also considerably lower than other cereals that can be grown in this country, although the nutritional value of millets is said to be superior to wheat, oats, etc.

Propagating it: Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within a week. Prick out the seedlings into trays or individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Annual

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Broom Millet,, Baragu, Broomcorn millet, Cheen, Cheena, Chena, Chenaa, Chino, Dokhan, Echte Hirse, European millet, Ji, Kadukanni, Ke, Kibi, Meneri, Miglio, Mijo, Mil, Milho miudo, Milium, Millet Panic, Nage, Panivaragu, Shu, Varagalu, Vari, Variga, Varo, brown millet, chinese millet, common millet, common millet, proso millet|wal meneri, french millet, gijang, hirs, little millet, millet, panic faux-millet, panicum millet, proso millet, red millet, white french millet, white millet.

Synonyms

Panicum milliaceum