Sorghum bicolor

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.

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.

Gallery

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External links

• w:Sorghum bicolor. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
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