Wild sorghum
Sorghum propinquum

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A millet grass which keeps growing from year to year. It has a few stout underground stems or rhizomes. The stem is erect and grows 2-3 m tall. The leaf blade is 30-100 cm long by 1-5 cm wide. The flowers are in a loose panicle. This is 20-60 cm long. There are 2-6 spikelets in each group. The seed is very small.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows on river banks, roadsides and open hillsides. It grows in grassland and forest. It grows up to 1000 m altitude. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Cambodia, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The grain is eaten as a famine food.

Edible parts

Seeds, cereal

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Glagah rayung, Kano-kano, Berang, Tebu tikus, Ya-pong

Synonyms

Andropogon propinquum Kunth,; Sorghum affine (J.S. Presl.) Camus; Sorghum halepense (L.)Pers. var. propinquum (Kunth.) Ohwi;