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USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase). 1950. Manual of the grasses of the United States. USDA Misc. Publ. No. 200. Washington, DC. |
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Summary
Physical Characteristics

Echinochloa frumentacea is a ANNUAL growing to 1.8 m (6ft) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in). It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Panicum frumentacea.
Habitats
Cultivated Beds;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses:
Seed - cooked and used as a millet. The seed can be cooked whole or can be ground into a flour[1, 57, 61, 105, 142, 171]. Usually eaten as a porridge[183]. The seed contains about 72.5% starch, 3.12% fat, 11.8% protein, 2.65% ash[179].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Stomachic
The plant is useful in the treatment of biliousness and constipation[240].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Prefers a rich moist soil[85] but succeeds in ordinary garden soil[1]. Japanese millet is sometimes cultivated in India and E. Asia for its edible seed, especially in areas where rice will not grow. There are some named varieties[1, 61, 74, 171]. Plants can produce a crop of seeds within 6 weeks of sowing in warmer areas of the world[179, 183] but obtaining a reasonable crop is more problematic in the cooler summers of Britain. The plants need to be started off early in a greenhouse in order to give sufficient growing time. They are also more likely to succeed in the eastern side of the country where the summers are usually warmer and drier.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
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Propagation
Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. A sowing in situ in late spring might also succeed but is unlikely to ripen a crop of seed if the summer is cool and wet.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Native Plant Search
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Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
(Roxb.)Link.
Botanical References
6174266
Links / References
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