Common millet
Panicum miliaceum
Synonyms: Panicum miliaceum var. cinereum, Panicum miliaceum subsp. agricola, Panicum ruderale, Panicum triphellon, Panicum miliaceum var. nutans, Milium panicum, Panicum densepilosum, Panicum spontaneum, Panicum milium, Panicum miliaceum var. anthracinum, Panicum miliaceum var. ruderale, Panicum miliaceum var. atrobrunneum, Panicum miliaceum var. album, Panicum miliaceum var. aureum, Panicum miliaceum var. glaucum, Panicum miliaceum var. sanguineum, Panicum miliaceum var. subvitellinotephrum, Panicum provinciale, Milium esculentum, Panicum miliaceum var. densobrunneum, Panicum miliaceum var. suberectum, Panicum miliaceum subsp. ruderale, Panicum miliaceum var. nicotianum, Panicum miliaceum var. leucospermum, Panicum miliaceum var. aquilum, Panicum miliaceum var. fuscum, Panicum miliaceum var. virescens, Panicum miliaceum var. nigrum, Leptoloma miliacea, Panicum miliaceum var. corsinum, Panicum miliaceum var. aerugineum, Panicum miliaceum var. coffeatum, Panicum asperrimum
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Botanical Description
Panicum miliaceum, proso millet or common millet, is a warm-season annual cereal grass in the family Poaceae (subfamily Panicoideae) growing typically 30–100 cm tall on slender, hairy culms with a shallow, fibrous root system. The leaves are long, flat, hairy and pale green, alternating along the stems. The inflorescence is a loose, open or somewhat one-sided drooping panicle bearing many small ovoid spikelets, each producing a single shiny grain about 3 mm long whose hull colour varies from cream and yellow to red, brown or near-black. As a C4 thermophilic plant it tolerates heat and severe drought, maturing a grain crop in as little as 60–90 days, the shortest of any major cereal. Domesticated about 10,000 years ago in northern China, proso millet was one of the first cereals to support settled agriculture and remains a staple grain across East Asia, including the fermented Inner Mongolian and Shanxi porridge known as suan zhou, as well as in parts of Russia, India and the Sahel.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Chemistry & External Identifiers
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.