Sorghum
Sorghum bicolor

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A millet grass. A mature sorghum plant resembles maize. Plants vary in height from 45 cm to 4 m. It is an annual grass with erect solid stems. The stems can be 3 cm across at the base. Under the ground there is a widely branching extensive root system. Prop roots occur near the base. There are a range of different types of sorghum. Some have one main stem while others have many tillers. There are more tillers when plants are widely spaced. The nodes on the stem are slightly thickened. The distance between nodes is shortest near the base of the plant. Short eagerly kinds have 7 leaves while tall late varieties may have 24 leaves. The leaf blade can be 30-135 cm long. Leaves are bluish green and waxy. They have a prominent midrib. The large flower panicle can be 20-40 cm long. The flower occurs at the top of the plant. It can stick upright or bend over. The flower can be open or compact. There are several different varieties. Over 1000 cultivated varieties occur in China.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It suits the savannah zones in the tropics. It tolerates heat and drought. It can recover from drought even as a seedling. It can tolerate water-logging. It can be grown on heavy or light soils. Sorghum needs short daylengths to flower. Many kinds are adapted to specific daylength and rainfall patterns. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa (country/location of origin), Angola, Arabia, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Chad, China, Congo DR, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, France, Georgia, Ghana, Guam, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tibet, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Türkiye, Uganda, United States, USA, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The seeds are eaten as a cereal. Flour is prepared then used for porridge or other dishes. It is used for dumplings, fried cakes and drinks. It cannot be used for bread as it contains no gluten. The stems of some kinds are sweet and are chewed. It is used for beer, and vinegar. The grains can be popped and eaten. The sprouted seeds are eaten.

One of the most important cereals of the semi-arid tropics. It is the most important native African cereal. It is cultivated on 50 million hectares in Africa.

Edible parts

Stems, seeds, cereal

How it is grown

Sorghum seeds will germinate soon after harvest. The seeds also store well if kept dry and protected from insects.

Grain is ready for harvest 4-8 weeks after flowering.

Its other names

Local names

Abantoko, Abokoun, Amabele, Amapemba, Bambaram-basso, Basse-bassi, Batar ainaruk, Beniyhah, Broomcorn, Buadoti, Cantel, Chidomba, Chipira, Daello, Dawa, Durra, Egyptian corn, Feterita, Forage sorghum, Gonkho, Grain sorghum, Great millet, Guinea corn, Hamo, Hnan-pyaung, Indian millet, iPwa, Jagung catel, Jerusalem corn, Jowar, Junelo, Kaffir-corn, Kala-lettok, Kala-pyaung, Kun-pyaung-pyu, Mabele, Mapemba, Mapila, Masasi mantidi, Midjo-cabal, Milho-cavalo, Milo, M'la, Mosong, Nahmo, Namuve, Nhame-quinto, Ntidi, Oka baba, Oka kpikpa, Pampas rice, Quinterim, Rice corn, Saccoline-pyaung, San-pyaung, Sooya, Supurge dansi, Susu, Thidok-lettok, Tiyooti, Waythali-mya-mahlaing, Waythali-thigye

Synonyms

Andropogon saccharatus; Andropogon sorghum (L.) Brot.; Andropogon sorghum subvar. rubidus Burkill ex C. Benson & C. K. Subba Rao; Andropogon sorghum var. agricolarum Burkill ex C. Benson & C. K. Subba Rao; Andropogon sorghum var. arduinii Korn.; Andropogon sorghum var. caudatus Hack.; Andropogon sorghum var. compactus Burkill ex C. Benson & C. K. Subba Rao; Andropogon sorghum var. ehrenbergianus Korn.; Andropogon sorghum var. elegans Korn.; Andropogon sorghum var. hians Stapf; Andropogon sorghum var. miliiformis Hack.; Andropogon sorghum var. splendidus Hack.; Andropogon sorghum var. subglobosus Hack.; Andropogon sorghum var. technicus Korn.; Andropogon subglabrescens Steud.; Holcus bicolor L.; Holcus cernuus Ard.; Holcus dochna Forssk.; Holcus durra Forssk.; Holcus saccharatus L.; Holcus sorghum L.; Milium nigricans Ruiz & Pav.; Panicum caffrorum Retz.; Sorghum basutorum Snowden; Sorghum bicolor var. arduinii (Korn.) Snowden; Sorghum bicolor var. subglobosum (Hack.) Snowden; Sorghum bicolor var. technicum (Korn.) Stapf ex Holland; Sorghum caffrorum (Thunb.) P. Beauv.; Sorghum caffrorum var. brunneolum Snowden; Sorghum caffrorum var. lasiorhachis (Hack.) Snowden; Sorghum caudatum (Hack.) Stapf; Sorghum cernuum (Ard.) Host; Sorghum cernuum var. agricolarum (Burkill ex C. Benson & C. K. Subba Rao) Snowden; Sorghum cernuum var. orbiculatum Snowden; Sorghum conspicuum Snowden; Sorghum conspicuum var. pilosum Snowden; Sorghum conspicuum var. rubicundum Snowden; Sorghum coriaceum Snowden; Sorghum coriaceum var. subinvolutum Snowden; Sorghum dochna (Forssk.) Snowden; Sorghum dochna var. technicum (Korn.) Snowden; Sorghum durra (Forssk.) Stapf; Sorghum elegans (Korn.) Snowden; Sorghum gambicum Snowden; Sorghum guineense Stapf; Sorghum japonicum (Hack.) Roshev.; Sorghum margaritiferum Stapf; Sorghum melaleucum Stapf; Sorghum mellitum Snowden; Sorghum membranaceum Chiov.; Sorghum membranaceum var. ehrenbergianum (Korn.) Snowden; Sorghum miliiforme (Hack.) Snowden; Sorghum nervosum Besser ex Schult. & Schult. f.; Sorghum nervosum Chiov.; Sorghum nigricans (Ruiz & Pav.) Snowden; Sorghum notabile Snowden; Sorghum roxburghii Stapf; Sorghum roxburghii var. hians (Stapf) Stapf; Sorghum saccharatum (L.) Moench; Sorghum simulans Snowden; Sorghum splendidum (Hack.) Snowden; Sorghum subglabrescens (Steud.) Schweinf. & Asch.; Sorghum subglabrescens var. compactum (Burkill ex C. Benson & C. K. Subba Rao) Snowden; Sorghum subglabrescens var. oviforme Snowden; Sorghum subglabrescens var. rubidum (Burkill ex C. Benson & C. K. Subba Rao) Snowden; Sorghum technicum Batt. & Trab.; Sorghum vulgare Pers., nom. illeg.; Sorghum vulgare var. caffrorum (Retz.) C. E. Hubb. & Rehder; Sorghum vulgare var. durra (Forssk.) C. E. Hubb. & Rehder; Sorghum vulgare var. roxburghii (Stapf) Haines; Sorghum vulgare var. saccharatum (L.) Boerl.