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Wood millet

Milium effusum

Family: Poaceae Genus: Milium Species: effusum

Synonyms: Agrostis effusa, Milium dubium, Milium effusum var. coloratum, Alopecurus effusus, Melica effusa, Milium effusum subsp. confertum, Milium effusum var. variegatum, Milium effusum var. elatius, Milium transsilvanicum var. lerchenfeldianum, Milium effusum var. subacaule, Milium effusum var. confertum, Milium effusum f. violaceum, Milium effusum subsp. cisatlanticum, Milium confertum, Milium nepalense, Milium effusum var. alpicola, Milium effusum f. lerchenfeldianum, Milium transsilvanicum, Milium effusum var. violaceum, Milium effusum subsp. alpicola, Milium effusum var. cisatlanticum, Milium effusum var. latifrons, Milium alpicola, Milium adscendens, Decandolia effusa, Miliarium effusum, Milium willdenowii

Wood millet (en)
Milium effusum — flower
Milium effusum — flower

Botanical Description

Milium effusum, the wood millet, is a graceful perennial grass of the family Poaceae growing 50 to 180 cm tall. The slender, smooth, erect culms arise singly or in small tufts from short rhizomes. The leaves are broad, flat, soft and bright green, giving the plant a lush appearance, with a prominent membranous ligule. The inflorescence is a large, very open, loosely spreading panicle 10 to 30 cm long, the fine drooping branches bearing small, rounded, one-flowered spikelets that lack awns. It flowers in early summer. Native across temperate Europe, Asia and parts of North America, wood millet is a characteristic plant of moist, shaded deciduous and mixed woodland on fertile soils, where it can form open colonies; a golden-leaved cultivar is grown ornamentally.

Native Region: Afghanistan, Albania, Altay, Amur, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, Central European Rus, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Connecticut, Corse, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East European Russia, East Himalaya, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Illinois, Indiana, Inner Mongolia, Iowa, Ireland, Irkutsk, Italy, Japan, Kamchatka, Kazakhstan, Khabarovsk, Kirgizstan, Korea, Krasnoyarsk, Krym, Kuril Is., Labrador, Maine, Manchuria, Manitoba, Maryland, Masachusettes, Michigan, Minnesota, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Newfoundland, North Carolina, North Caucasus, North European Russi, Northwest European R, Norway, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Ontario, Pakistan, Pennsylvania, Poland, Primorye, Qinghai, Québec, Romania, Sakhalin, Saskatchewan, Sicilia, South Dakota, South European Russi, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Taiwan, Tennessee, Tibet, Transcaucasus, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, Tuva, Ukraine, Vermont, Virginia, West Himalaya, West Siberia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Xinjiang, Yakutskiya, Yugoslavia

Cultural & Historical Context

Traditional American Uses

None Documented

Chemistry & External Identifiers

Trefle ID
231545

Important Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.

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