Eleusine coracana

An annual grass reaching 12 inches tall. Flowers July to August with seeds ripening August to October. Wind-pollinated and self-fertile. Grows in light, medium, or heavy soils with good drainage; tolerant of poor soil, saline conditions, and various pH levels from acidic to alkaline. Requires full sun and prefers moist soil.

Description

A millet grass. It is an annual grass. It is robust and forms many tillers or young shoots from the base. It grows 40-120 cm tall. The stems are somewhat flattened. The leaves are narrow. The flower heads are made up of 2-7 finger like spikes. These spikes are 1.5 cm across and 10-15 cm long. These in turn have about 70 smaller spikes. Each one of these smaller spikes has 4-7 seeds. The seeds can be 1-2 mm across. The seeds are roughly rounded. The colour varies. There are coracana and africana subsp.

Edible Uses

The seed is cooked and used as a millet — either whole or ground into a flour for cakes, puddings, and porridge. The flour makes a fair unleavened bread if soaked overnight in water first. It is also commonly used in fermented foods. Finger millet is the principal food grain for many people in dry regions of India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, and provides a sustaining diet particularly for those doing hard physical work. The grain is higher in protein, fat, and minerals than rice, corn, or sorghum. It can be malted, and flour made from malted grain serves as a nourishing food for infants and invalids. It is also considered especially wholesome for diabetics. The seed is about 2mm in diameter, and yields around 5 tonnes per hectare. Ragi grain stores exceptionally well and is said to improve in quality with storage — seeds can be kept without damage for up to 50 years, making them highly valued as a famine reserve. Yield varies by variety and is directly related to plant duration, height, and tillering capacity; straight-spiked types generally outyield those with curved spikes. Nutritional content per 100g dry weight (370 calories, 0% water): Protein 7.6g, Fat 1.5g, Carbohydrate 88g, Fibre 3g, Ash 2.7g; Calcium 410mg, Phosphorus 290mg, Iron 12.6mg; Vitamin A 0.48mg, Thiamine (B1) 0.33mg, Riboflavin (B2) 0.11mg, Niacin 1.2mg. (Figures are the median of a reported range.)

Traditional Uses

The seed are eaten either roasted or ground into flour. This is used for porridge and flat bread. Alcohol is brewed from the grain. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer. The leaves are also edible.

Medicinal Uses

The seed is astringent, tonic, and cooling, and is used in treating fevers, biliousness, and hepatitis. Leaf juice has been given to women in childbirth, and the plant is reported to be diaphoretic, diuretic, and vermifuge. It is a folk remedy for leprosy, liver disease, measles, pleurisy, pneumonia, and smallpox.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It is a very drought resistant crop. For good yields it needs good soil drainage and adequate moisture. It cannot stand water-logging. It becomes important where rainfall is 900-1250 mm. It especially suits areas with long hot summers. It needs a minimum temperature above 18°C and does best where temperatures are above 27°C. It grows from sea level to 2400 m altitude in Africa. It is a short day length plant and does best where daylength is 12 hours. In Nepal it is grown to about 2500 m altitude. In Kenya it grows from sea level to 2,400 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Afghanistan, Africa, Angola, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Botswana, Britain, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo DR, East Africa, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, Ghana, Guam, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Laos, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, Northeastern India, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Sikkim, Socotra, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tibet, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UAE, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

It is grown from seed. Often plants are grown mixed with sorghum or maize. Good soil preparation is needed to reduce weed competition. Seed can be broadcast or drilled. Young plants need to be weeded and thinned. Seed viability drops to about 50 % after 2 years. Spacing of 5 cm apart in rows 30-33 cm apart or 10-12 cm apart in rows 25 cm apart are recommended. About 25-35 kg of seed per hectare are needed if seed are broadcast. 5-10 kg per hectare are required if seed are drilled. Using fertiliser can dramatically increase yield. 125 kg per hectare of sulphate of ammonia when plants are 15 cm high is used in Uganda.

Propagation

Sow seed in early spring in a greenhouse, only just covering it. Germination should occur within 2 weeks. Prick seedlings out into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant out in late spring after the last expected frosts. Seed can also be sown in mid to late spring in situ, though it may not ripen if the summer is cool.

Other Uses

None known.

Production

It is self pollinating and pollination occurs over 8-10 days. Millet seed stores very well and can be stored without damage for 10 years. Often it is stored on the head. Yields of about 450-900 kg of dried grain per hectare are usual. This can easily be increased to 1650 kg per hectare. Crops take 3-6 months until harvest. Seeds are heated before grinding.

Other Information

It is grown on about 1 million hectares in Southern Africa. It is cultivated on about 3 million hectares in India.

Notes

There are 9 Eleusine species. They are mostly in tropical Africa. Demo

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

African millet, Amale, Bavto, Bule, Can, Coracan, Dagussa, Degussa, Gyo-ni, Indian Millet, Kattu kepai, Kayur, Kelvagaru, Kelvaregu, Khakwe, Kodha, Kodo, Kodro, Kremalu, Kurahan, Kurakkan, Kurkan, Lipoko, Long zhao ji, Lupoko, Majolothi, Malesi, Malu, Mandal, Mandua, Marua, Matai, Mawe, Mawere, Mijo corocano, Mofoho, Mpogo, Mufhoho, Mulimbi, Murwa, Muttari, Nachani, Nachoni, Nagli, Namarrupe, Natchnee, Mjera, Popoko, Ragi, Ragulu, Rajika, Rapoko, Remaru, Rukweza, Rupoko, Samgorai, Sat-ni, Shina, Tailabon, Tellaboon, Tocusso, Tokuso, Ulezi, Uphoko, Usanje, Wimbi, Ya jiao su, Zviyo, Zvuyo

References (74)

• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 193
• Anderson, E. F., 1993, Plants and people of the Golden Triangle. Dioscorides Press. p 210
• Arinathan, V., et al, 2007, Wild edibles used by Palliyars of the western Ghats, Tamil Nadu. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 6(1) pp 163-168
• Brouk, B., 1975, Plants Consumed by Man. Academic Press, London. p 24
• Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 2. Kew.

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