Difference between revisions of "Sorghum bicolor"

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{{Taxobox
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{{SPlantbox
| color = lightgreen
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|familia=Poaceae
| name = ''Sorghum bicolor''
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|genus=Sorghum
| image = Sorghum bicolor03.jpg
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|species=bicolor
| image_width = 210px
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|common_name=Great millet, Sorghum
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
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|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
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|habit=grass
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
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|habit_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
| ordo = [[Poales]]
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|Min ht box=10
| familia = [[Poaceae]]
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|Min ht metric=ft
| genus = ''[[Sorghum]]''
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|Max ht box=20
| species = '''''S. bicolor'''''
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|Max ht metric=ft
| binomial = ''Sorghum bicolor''
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|height_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
| binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]) Moench 
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|Min wd box=2
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|Min wd metric=ft
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|Max wd box=3
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|Max wd metric=ft
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|width_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
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|lifespan=perennial, annual
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|life_ref=Wikipedia
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|exposure=sun
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|sun_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
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|features=flowers, edible, drought tolerant
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|flower_season=early summer, mid summer, late summer
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|flower_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
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|Temp Metric=°F
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|min_zone=9
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|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
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|max_zone=12
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|image=Sorghum Bicolor growing at Kew .jpeg
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|image_width=240
 
}}
 
}}
 +
'''''Sorghum bicolor''''' ('''''Sorghum japonicum'''''), commonly called '''sorghum''',  is a plant species in the grass family [[Poaceae]]. It is the primary ''[[Sorghum]]'' species cultivated for grain for human consumption and for animal feed. It can be popped in a similar fashion to popcorn. The species originated in northern Africa and can grow in arid soils and withstand prolonged droughts.<ref name="FAO">FAO. [http://www.fao.org/ag/agp/agpc/doc/gbase/data/pf000319.htm Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]</ref>
  
'''''Sorghum bicolor''''' is the primary ''[[Sorghum]]'' species grown for grain for human consumption and for animal feed. The species originated in northern Africa and can grow in arid soils and withstand prolonged droughts. It is commonly known simply as '''sorghum'''.
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It has four features which make it one of the most drought resistant crops of all: it has a very large root-to-leaf surface area; in times of drought it will roll its leaves to lessen water-loss by transpiration; if drought continues it will go into dormancy rather than dying; its leaves are protected by a waxy cuticle.
  
''S. bicolor'' is usually an annual, but some cultivars perennial. It grows in clumps which may reach over 4 meters high. The grain is small reaching about 3 to 4 mm in diameter. Sweet sorghums are sorghum cultivars that are primarily grown for foliage; they are shorter than those grown for grain.  
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''S. bicolor'' is typically an annual, but some cultivars are perennial. It grows in clumps which may reach over 4 meters high. The grain is small reaching about 3 to 4&nbsp;mm in diameter. Sweet sorghums are sorghum cultivars that are primarily grown for foliage; they are shorter than those grown for grain.<ref name="FAO" />
  
The species is source of ethanol [[biofuel]], and in some environments may be better than maize or sugarcane as it can grow under more harsh conditions.
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==Cultivation==
  
==Reference==
 
*FAO. [http://www.fao.org/ag/agp/agpc/doc/gbase/data/pf000319.htm Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]
 
  
{{grass-stub}}
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===Propagation===
  
[[category:Grasses]]
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===Pests and diseases===
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==Varieties==
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==Gallery==
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<gallery perrow=5>
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File:Sorghum bicolor.JPG| photo 1
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Image:Upload.png| photo 2
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Image:Upload.png| photo 3
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</gallery>
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==References==
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<references/>
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<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
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==External links==
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*{{wplink}}
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{{stub}}
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__NOTOC__

Latest revision as of 00:09, 8 June 2010


Sorghum Bicolor growing at Kew.jpeg


Plant Characteristics
Habit   grass

Height: 10 ft"ft" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 10. to 20 ft"ft" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 20.
Width: 2 ft"ft" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 2. to 3 ft"ft" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 3.
Lifespan: perennial, annual
Bloom: early summer, mid summer, late summer
Cultivation
Exposure: sun
Features: flowers, edible, drought tolerant
USDA Zones: 9 to 12
Scientific Names

Poaceae >

Sorghum >

bicolor >


Sorghum bicolor (Sorghum japonicum), commonly called sorghum, is a plant species in the grass family Poaceae. It is the primary Sorghum species cultivated for grain for human consumption and for animal feed. It can be popped in a similar fashion to popcorn. The species originated in northern Africa and can grow in arid soils and withstand prolonged droughts.[1]

It has four features which make it one of the most drought resistant crops of all: it has a very large root-to-leaf surface area; in times of drought it will roll its leaves to lessen water-loss by transpiration; if drought continues it will go into dormancy rather than dying; its leaves are protected by a waxy cuticle.

S. bicolor is typically an annual, but some cultivars are perennial. It grows in clumps which may reach over 4 meters high. The grain is small reaching about 3 to 4 mm in diameter. Sweet sorghums are sorghum cultivars that are primarily grown for foliage; they are shorter than those grown for grain.[1]

Cultivation

Propagation

Pests and diseases

Varieties

Gallery

References

External links