Echinochloa esculenta

Echinochloa esculenta or Echinochloa utilis is a type of millet originating from East Asia, and is part of the Poaceae family, making it a grass. E. esculenta is colloquially known as Japanese millet, but possesses many other names, such as: Japanese barnyard millet, marsh millet, Siberian millet, and white millet. Its primary usage in the USA is for forage and for wildlife habitats. In Japan, Korea and northeastern China, the millet is grown on a small scale primarily for fodder. Japanese millet is not a main cereal crop, and is therefore considered an alternative crop. Echinochloa species are generally considered to be short-lived, tropical short-day C4 plants that possess high vitality in humid conditions. Seeding is done in spring and flowering takes place in mid summer. Species from this genus show strong adaptation to soils with poor drainage and low fertility.

Description

An annual millet grass. It grows 1-1.5 m tall. It forms tussocks. The leaf sheaths are smooth. The leaf blades are 20-50 cm long by 1.2-2.5 cm wide. The edges are thickened and wavy. It is flat and tapers to a point. The inflorescence is an erect panicle 6-20 cm long. The seed heads are purplish. This is probably the cultivated form of Sawa millet (Echinochloa colona).

Edible Uses

The seeds are boiled with rice, used in porridge, or made into rice cakes.

Traditional Uses

The seeds are boiled with rice or used in porridge or rice cakes.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is cultivated in warm temperate areas of the world. It is grown as a summer growing annual. It needs a highly fertile soil. It can withstand some water-logging but is not resistant to drought. It is less drought tolerant than sorghum. It can grow in arid places. Tasmanian Herbarium.

Where It Grows

Africa, Asia, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Britain, China, East Africa, Europe, India, Japan, Korea, Madagascar, North America, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Tasmania, USA, Zimbabwe,

Other Information

A crop plant.

Notes

There are about 35 Echinochloa species. They grow in tropical to warm temperate regions.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Sanwa millet, Zi sui bai

References (15)

• Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 20:50. 1962 (As Echinochloa utilis)
• Hussey, B.M.J., Keighery, G.J., Cousens, R.D., Dodd, J., Lloyd, S.G., 1997, Western Weeds. A guide to the weeds of Western Australia. Plant Protection Society of Western Australia. p 52
• Lamp, C.A., Forbes, S.J. and Cade, J.W., 1990, Grasses of Temperate Australia. Inkata Press. p 146 (As Echinochloa utilis)
• Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 86 (As Echinochloa utilis)
• Paczkowska, G. & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Catalogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 102

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