Johnson grass
Sorghum halepense

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A vigorous grass. It keeps growing from year to year. It has underground stems or rhizomes. It grows 0.5-2 m high. The stems form roots at the nodes near the ground. The leaf blades have a prominent midrib. The leaves are without hairs except near the rim of the sheath. The flower is an open panicle. The spikelets are on short stalks. The spikelets have short hairs.

Johnsongrass is a product of introgression with Sorghum bicolor.

Where it is found

It is often in moist places. It grows in tropical as well as warm temperate places. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Caribbean, Central Asia, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Easter Island, Eswatini, Guiana, Guyana, Haiti, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Marquesas, Mauritania, Mediterranean (country/location of origin), Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niue, North Africa, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Russia, SE Asia, Slovenia, South America, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, St Helena, St. Kitts and Nevis, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

CAUTION: The plant can contain cyanide but this is destroyed by cooking. The grains are used in times of scarcity. The seeds are used to prepare flour. This is often mixed with other flour. They are also used for beer.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Seeds, roots, cereal

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Alepo, Avati camba, Baru, Camucha, Canacha, Canota, Canutillo, Capim-alpiste, Capim-argentino, Capim-aveia, Capim-cevada, Capim-de-cuba, Cuba grass, Divji sirek, Grama china, Jwari, Libendle, Maicillo, Pastoa Johnson, Pastoa polaco, Pasto honda, Pasto ruso, Pyaung-myet-pyu, Sorguillo, Sorgo de alepo

Synonyms

Andropogon halepensis Hook.f. in part; Andropogon halepensis (Linn.) Brot.; Andropogon miliaceus Roxb.; Andropogon miliformis Schult.; Andropogon sorghum subsp. halepensis (Linn.) Hack.; Holcus halepensis Linn.; Sorghum giganteum Edgew.; Sorghum miliaceum (Roxb.) Snowden; Sorghum miliaceum var. parvispiculum Snowden;