Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)

Poaceae family

Sorghum is a very drought- and heat-tolerant grain crop native to sub-Saharan Africa. Other primitive landraces are found in India and China. It is the world's fifth or sixth most important cereal crop. Although sorghum is an important human food in Africa and India, it is mainly grown for livestock feed in the U.S., primarily in the south-central Midwest and High Plains in areas too hot and/or dry for corn production. Dwarf cultivars have been developed in many of these American growing areas.

It has a C4 metabolism, like corn. Different types of primitive sorghum include the milos (sorghum is commonly called "milo"), kafirs, hegaris, feteritas, shallus, kaoliangs, sorgos or sweet sorghums, and broomcorns. Shattercane and johnsongrass are common weedy relatives of sorghum found primarily in areas of the southeastern U.S. Sorghum is of the tribe ANDROPOGONEAE.