Sorghum halepense
(L.) Pers.
Johnson grass
(c) Harry Rose, some rights reserved (CC BY)
(c) L. K. Holt, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by L. K. Holt
(c) Eric Blomberg, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by Eric Blomberg
What to Eat
Edible parts: Seeds, Roots, Cereal
The seed can be eaten raw or cooked — used whole in the manner of rice or millet, or ground into a flour for making bread, cakes, and other cereal-based foods.
Known Hazards
Where to Find It
It is often in moist places. It grows in tropical as well as warm temperate places. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Caribbean, Central Asia, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Easter Island, Eswatini, Guiana, Guyana, Haiti, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Marquesas, Mauritania, Mediterranean*, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niue, North Africa, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Russia, SE Asia, Slovenia, South America, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, St Helena, St. Kitts and Nevis, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
How to Identify
A vigorous grass. It keeps growing from year to year. It has underground stems or rhizomes. It grows 0.5-2 m high. The stems form roots at the nodes near the ground. The leaf blades have a prominent midrib. The leaves are without hairs except near the rim of the sheath. The flower is an open panicle. The spikelets are on short stalks. The spikelets have short hairs.
How to Grow
Originally from the Mediterranean and west Asia, Johnson grass has spread to many areas of the world, including the tropics. It is best adapted to warm humid summer-rainfall areas in the subtropics, not growing well in strictly tropical areas. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 24 - 32°c, but can tolerate 15 - 36°c. Temperatures below 13°c tend to inhibit flowering. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -7°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -1°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 500 - 750mm, but tolerates 450 - 1,500mm. Prefers a warm sunny position. An easily grown plant, it succeeds in ordinary garden soil. It is adapted to a wide range of soil types, including upland clay, but seems to do best on porous fertile lowlands and river bottoms. It does well on heavy clay soils of relatively high fertility and water holding capacity. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 6.8, tolerating 4.9 - 8.2. A parent of the cultivated Sorghum (S. Bicolor). Classified as a short day plant, it does not flower if the daylight hours exceed about 13 hours per day. Rhizomes production may be 10-50 t/ha. Seed yields of 0.3 t/ha are considered good. A day-length of 12 hours is thought to be the optimum for flowering, with above 14 hours of light the grass fails to flower, and above 16 hours all growth processes are inhibited.
Propagation: Sow seed in April in a greenhouse, barely covering it. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. Prick out seedlings into individual pots once large enough to handle and plant out after the last expected frost. Divide plants in mid spring as new growth begins. Larger divisions can go directly into permanent positions; smaller divisions are best potted up and grown on in a lightly shaded cold frame, then planted out once well established in summer.
Medicinal Uses
The seed is demulcent and diuretic.
Other Uses
The plant is a potential biomass source, with yields of up to 19 tonnes per hectare.
Wikipedia
Source ↗A fast-growing perennial reaching 2 meters tall and spreading 1.2 meters wide, hardy to UK zone 8. Flowers from August to October with seeds ripening September to October. Wind-pollinated hermaphroditic flowers. Grows in light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils across mildly acidic to mildly alkaline pH. Requires full sun and tolerates both drought and moist conditions.
Other Information
It is cultivated.
Notes
Johnsongrass is a product of introgression with Sorghum bicolor.
Names & Synonyms
Alepo, Avati camba, Baru, Camucha, Canacha, Canota, Canutillo, Capim-alpiste, Capim-argentino, Capim-aveia, Capim-cevada, Capim-de-cuba, Cuba grass, Divji sirek, Grama china, Jwari, Libendle, Maicillo, Pastoa Johnson, Pastoa polaco, Pasto honda, Pasto ruso, Pyaung-myet-pyu, Sorguillo, Sorgo de alepo
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