Sorghum
ExplorePlants
Sorghum
Sorghum
Sorghum is a type of grain that grows tall like grass. It is used to make food like bread, porridge, and animal feed. Sorghum comes in different colors like red, white, and brown.
Habitat: Farms
Appearance
The Sorghum is a tall, grass-like plant with broad leaves resembling corn, typically growing in dense clumps. It features a distinctive, large seed head (panicle) at the top, which can vary in color from pale cream to reddish-brown as it ripens, making it visually distinct.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderPoalesFamilyPoaceaeGenusSorghum
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Beyond food, specific types of sorghum are harvested to make brooms and brushes!
Did you know sorghum is the fifth most important cereal crop globally? It feeds millions!
Some sorghum varieties grow so tall, they can be taller than a basketball hoop!
The sturdy stalks of sorghum can even be used to create biofuel for energy!
Special abilities
Ability
Drought Defender
Sorghum can survive long dry spells thanks to waxy leaves that hold water and deep roots to reach moisture.
Ability
Sun Powerhouse
Sorghum has a special way to turn sunshine into energy, called C4 photosynthesis, making it efficient in hot, sunny places.
Ability
Soil Scout
Sorghum can grow well even in poor soils by efficiently using nitrogen, an important nutrient, to thrive.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 100-500 cm
- Spread
- 30-60 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.1-0.5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Pollination Method
- Wind
Ecological connections
eats
Greenbug
Schizaphis graminum
Feeds on sorghum leaves, causing damage.
eats
African Maize Stalk Borer
Busseola fusca
Larvae bore into stems, weakening the plant.
eats
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
Flocks feast on ripening grain in fields.
eaten by
Cattle
Bos taurus
Cultivated and consumed as a nutritious forage crop.
Traits
Drought Tolerant
Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
Grain Crop
This human use trait denotes species cultivated as grain crops, harvested for their edible dry seeds (grains), which are a staple food source.
Agricultural
This human use trait describes species cultivated or domesticated by humans for agricultural purposes, including crops and livestock.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Also known as
Great MilletSorghum Bicolor
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Sorghum plants are safe to touch, but it's important to ask an adult before picking or eating any grains.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Sorghum?
100-500 cm
How wide does Sorghum spread?
30-60 cm
How big are the flowers on Sorghum?
0.1-0.5 cm
When does Sorghum bloom?
Summer
Is Sorghum edible?
Yes
Is Sorghum toxic?
None
What is Sorghum's lifecycle?
Annual
How is Sorghum pollinated?
Wind
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