Coix lachryma-jobi

Job’s tears

Family Gramineae (or Poaceae)

Coix lachryma-jobi, Job’s tears and adlay (C. lachryma-jobi 2), is an annual grass, 1-2 m tall, with large lanceolate leaves with prominent midrib. The inflorescences are borne in the axils of the upper leaves, each spikelet with a single fertile floret that produces a hollow, hard bead-like false fruit. These fruits are usually grey, but also light bluish, pink, brown and black forms occur.

Distribution
Job’s tears occur wild in Southeast Asia and tropical Africa. It was known to the ancient Arabs who introduced it into Europe. The hard-shelled forms (C. lachryma-jobi 1) are widely distributed in the tropics and subtropics and are used for rosaries and necklaces, which are often sold to tourists. The thin-shelled form is grown for food and is of ancient cultivation in Asia. In the Philippines it is known as adlay and in China as ma-yuen.

Use
The hulled grain is used in the same way as rice. It can also be ground and made into flour. The plant is also used as fodder.