Pennisetum glaucum

(L.) R. Br.

Bullrush millet, Pearl millet

Poaceae Edible: Seeds, Cereal

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Summary

Annual grass reaching 3 m tall, flowering and seeding September to October, wind-pollinated hermaphroditic species. Grows in light sandy or medium loamy, well-drained soils tolerating poor nutrition. Adapts to mildly acidic to basic pH, requires full sun, tolerates dry to moist conditions and drought.

Description

A millet grass. It is an annual grass. It grows to 3 m tall. The leaf blades are 20-100 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The flower is dense and 40-50 cm long by 1.2-1.5 cm wide. They also vary a lot in shape and size. Plants that tiller produce smaller heads. The species varies a lot. There are 13 cultivated, 15 weed and 6 wild races of this grass. It has a cylindrical ear like a bullrush. The grains are small and round and have a shiny grey colour like pearls. There are thousands of cultivated varieties. Possibly now Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone

Edible Uses

The seeds can be eaten raw or cooked, used much like rice in sweet or savoury dishes, or ground into a flour for bread, porridge, and similar preparations. The grain is commonly fermented to produce various foods, and the sweet-tasting grains are eaten raw by children. The seeds are highly nutritious.

Traditional Uses

The seeds are eaten like rice. They are also ground into flour and made into bread and cakes and porridge. They are used to make alcoholic drinks. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer. They are mixed with other grains and seeds to make fermented foods. Some kinds have sweet stalks that are chewed. The young ears can be roasted and eaten like sweet corn. The plant is also infested by a fungus which is eaten.

Medicinal Uses

The plant acts as an appetiser and tonic, and is considered useful in treating heart diseases. The fruits have been rubbed directly onto open facial pimples to help clear them.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It suits regions with a short growing season. It grows in areas with less than 600 mm of rainfall. It is often in hot places. (It is replaced with sorghum between 600 and 1200 mm rainfall and then by finger millet or maize above 1200 mm rainfall.) It is important in the drier areas of India and Pakistan. It can grow in arid places.

Where It Grows

Africa*, Algeria, Angola, Asia, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Chad, China, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, East Timor, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Europe, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, India, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Korea, Kuwait, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Middle East, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, Northeastern India, Oman, Pakistan, Sahara, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Uganda, USA, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. It is usually sown directly into the field. The plant density is adjusted to suit rainfall and soil fertility. The spacing is 45 cm apart up to 200 cm apart. It is also intercropped with other crops such as cowpea, sorghum and peanut. Crops are normally weeded 2 or 3 times.

Propagation

Sow seed in spring in a greenhouse. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and plant them out in early summer.

Other Uses

None known Special Uses

Production

It takes from 75-180 days to maturity. The heads can be picked by hand or the plant removed. Some types need to be picked 2 or 3 times as heads mature.

Other Information

It is cultivated for its grain. It is the second most important native African cereal. It is grown on 14 million hectares in Africa and 11 million hectares in India and Pakistan. It is the staple food of 100 million people.

Notes

There are about 100 Pennisetum species. Chemical composition: Protein = 11.5%. Fat = 6.03%. Carbohydrate = 40.73%. Ash = 8.23%.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Seeds	11.6	1442	345	10.5	0	0	6.5	1.7

Synonyms

Alopecurus typhoides N. L. BurmannChaetochloa glauca (L.) Scribn.Chamaeraphis glauca (L.) KuntzeHolcus spicatus L.Panicum glaucum L.Pennisetum americanum L.Pennisetum americanum (L.) LeekePennisetum echinurus (K. Schum.) Stapf et Hubb.Pennisetum gambiense Stapf & C. E. Hubb.Pennisetum leonis Stapf & C. E. Hubb.Pennisetum maiwa Stapf & HubbardPennisetum malachochaete Stapf & C. E. Hubb.Pennisetum spicatum (L.) Korn.Pennisetum typhoides (Burm. f.) Stapf & C. E. Hubb.Pennisetum typhoideum Rich.Setaria glauca (L.) P. Beauvand many others

Also Known As

Amabele, Ayuo, Babala, Bajra, Ban kangni, Bandari ghas, Bandra, Barati, Bhadli, Bilikorla hullu, Bini, Bolu, Bonu, Bubele, Bultuk, Butun, Candle millet, Cat tail millet, Cumbu, Dagusa, Dauro, Dissi, Duhun, Dukhon, Emeye, Gaouri, Gawri, Gero, Haanibii, Hatchi, Hegni, Inyouti, Isansa, Jamir, Kala-sat, Kapelembe, Khwe-mi-pok, Kolaat, Kolhu, Kolvi, Kotu, Kukra, Kunchi, Likun, Machewere, Madja, Madjo, Maiwa, Masan, Massango, Mauza, Mawale, Mayi, Mhunga, Mhungu, Mi-mawele, Midjo-preto, Miglio perla, Mijo perla, Milhete, Milho africano, Milho-malha, Milho-preto, Millet perle, Mpyoli, Munga, Muzundi, Mwere, Nakka korra, Nashasha, Ntweka, Nyalothi, Nyauti, Nyo, Pale pigeon grass, Pinginatchi, Raa, Sajje, Sanyo, Short Millet, Somene, Spiked millet, Tamir, Toujin kibi, Uchewere, Unyaluthi, Unyawothi, Unyawoti, Uwele, Yayomaata, Yellow bristle-grass, Yellow Fox Tail, Yu gu, Zipti ghass

References (77)

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