Uses
Toxic parts
The immature plant is poisonous, especially if slightly wilted, since it can contain the toxins hydrogen cyanide and the alkaloid hordenine[1][2][3]. These substances are destroyed if the plant is dried or made into silage[3]. In small quantities, hydrogen cyanide has been shown to stimulate respiration and improve digestion, it is also claimed to be of benefit in the treatment of cancer. In excess, however, it can cause respiratory failure and even death.
Edible uses
Notes
Seed - raw or cooked. It is used as a whole grain in similar ways to rice or can be ground into a flour and made into bread etc[4][1][5][6][7]. The ground seed yields a particularly white flour[8]. Sorghum is a staple food in some regions, where it is often fermented (lactic acid fermentation) before being eaten[7]. The sprouted seed can be eaten raw, and is sometimes added to salads[7].
Sap - raw or cooked. Very sweet, it is made into a syrup[9][4][10][5][11].
Stems - cooked[12]. Some caution is advised here, there are some reports that the leaves can contain the poison cyanide[1].Seed
Stem
Unknown part
Material uses
Ecology
Ecosystem niche/layer
Ecological Functions
Nothing listed.
Forage
Nothing listed.
Shelter
Nothing listed.
Propagation
Seed - sow April in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within 2 weeks if given a minimum germination temperature of 23°c[14]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and plant them out after the last expected frosts. Consider giving them some protection, such as a cloche, until they are growing away strongly.
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Cultivation
A fairly easily grown plant, though it is on the edges of its climatic zone in Britain. It requires a warm, sheltered and sunny position[14], preferring a slightly to moderately acid soil[14][3], though some cultivars have succeeded with a pH as high as 8[3]. Plants are adapted to a wide range of soils varying from light loams to heavy clays, they thrive best on light, easily worked soils of high fertility, with moderate to high availablility of water[3]. Moderately well-drained soils are suitable for sorghums[3]. Small amounts of alkali in sand reduces performance considerably[3]. Plants are moderatley tolerant of saline soils[3]. Established plants are very drought resistant, they succeed in arid soils[15]. A nitrogen rich soil causes the plants to lodge[14]. Plants are reported to tolerate an annual precipitation in the range of 20 to 410cm, an annual temperature in the range of 7.8 to 27.8°C and a pH of 4.3 to 8.7[3].
Sorghum is widely cultivated in tropical and warm temperate zones for its edible seed, as well as for its panicles (which are used as brooms) and the syrup obtained from its sap. Yields of around 6 tonnes per hectare have been achieved, though yields as low as 200 kilos have been reported - yields below 2 tonnes are not considered financially viable[3].There are many named varieties[1][16][17][7]. Some cultivars are short-day plants and are unlikely to produce flowers and seed away from the tropical zone[3]. Plants are adapted to tropical and subtropical summer rainfall climates with rainfall from 25 - 125 cm annually, they are of little importance in more humid areas with higher rainfall[3]. It is grown in Britain as a tender bedding plant but requires a long hot summer if it is to ripen its seed here[18]. In warmer climates it takes 3 months from sowing to seed harvest[14].
Crops
Problems, pests & diseases
Associations & Interactions
There are no interactions listed for Sorghum bicolor. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.
Polycultures & Guilds
There are no polycultures listed which include Sorghum bicolor.
Descendants
Cultivars
Varieties
None listed.
Subspecies
None listed.
Full Data
This table shows all the data stored for this plant.
Taxonomy
Binomial name
Sorghum bicolor
Genus
Sorghum
Family
Gramineae
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
None listed.
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
References
- ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.61.71.81.9 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
- ? Brouk. B. Plants Consumed by Man. Academic Press ISBN 0-12-136450-x (1975-00-00)
- ? 3.003.013.023.033.043.053.063.073.083.093.103.113.123.13 Duke. J. Handbook of Energy Crops - (1983-00-00)
- ? 4.04.14.24.34.4 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
- ? 5.05.15.25.35.4 Schery. R. W. Plants for Man. ()
- ? 6.06.1 Grounds. R. Ornamental Grasses. Christopher Helm ISBN 0-7470-1219-9 (1989-00-00)
- ? 7.07.17.27.37.4 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
- ? 8.08.18.28.3 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (1984-00-00)
- ? 9.09.19.29.3 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
- ? 10.010.110.210.3 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
- ? 11.011.1 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
- ? 12.012.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
- ? 13.013.1 Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre ()
- ? 14.014.114.214.314.4 Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987. ()
- ? Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (1952-00-00)
- ? ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press (1964-00-00)
- ? Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
- ? 18.018.1 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
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