Practical
Plants

Pennisetum glaucum

Pearl Millet

an annual member of the Pennisetum genus in the family Gramineae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Gramineae
Life cycle
annual
Height
0.5 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - raw or cooked. It can be used like rice in sweet or savoury dishes, or can be ground into a powder and used as a flour for making bread, porridge etc[11][1][6]. The grain is often fermented to make various foods[6] The sweet tasting grains are eaten raw by children[6]. Very nutritious[5].

Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant is appetiser and tonic[7]. It is useful in the treatment of heart diseases[7]. The fruits have been rubbed on open facial pimples in order to get rid of them[8].

Product or use
Appetizer
Product or use
Skin
Product or use
Tonic

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China.
Habitat
River banks in sandy soils, common as a weed[11].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in early summer.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a light well-drained soil in a sunny position[4]. Succeeds in dry infertile soils[3]. This species is the most drought-resistant of all cereal crops[4]. Cultivated for its edible seed in tropical and sub-tropical areas[10][2], it is especially suited to regions with a short growing season[9]. It is a more problematical crop in Britain, requiring a hot summer if it is to ripen a good crop of seed. There are often not many seeds on the inflorescence[3].

References

  1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  2. Brouk. B. Plants Consumed by Man. Academic Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-12-136450-x

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  3. Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987.

    ↩1↩2

  4. Grounds. R. Ornamental Grasses. Christopher Helm 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-7470-1219-9

    ↩1↩2

  5. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

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  6. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  8. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

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  9. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

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  10. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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  11. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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