Bulrush millet, pearl millet, spiked millet, cattail millet
Family Gramineae (or Poaceae)
Pennisetum typhoides (= P. typhoideum, = P. glaucum, = P. americanum, = P. spicatum), bulrush millet, pearl millet, spiked millet or cattail millet (P. typhoides 1), is a tall erect annual grass, up to 4 m high (P. typhoides 2), resembling sorghum and maize very close in the vegetative phase. At the top of the stem it bears a long cylindrical ear (P. typhoides 3), which resembles a bulrush and gives the crop its common name.
Distribution
It probably originated in western tropical Africa, from where it was taken at an early date to Central and East Africa and India (P. typhoides 5). About 1560 it became known in Europe and was introduced in the US in the 1850s, but is of little importance there. Although widely introduced in the tropics in later years, bulrush millet did not achieve importance outside India and Africa.
Use
Bulrush millet (P. typhoides 4) is the staple food in the drier parts of tropical Africa and in India, where it is known as bajra and is the most important cereal after rice, sorghum and wheat. It may be cooked or ground into flour and made into porridge. The flour is also used to make unleavened bread. In Africa it is important for brewing beer. The greatest merit of bulrush millet is the fact that it can grow on poor soils in low-rainfall areas, together with the fact that it sores well. However, it is very susceptible for bird damage.