Job's Tears

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Job's-tears
• adlay
• adlay millet
• Job's Tear
• Job's Tears
• Jacob's Tears

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lithagrostis lacryma-jobi

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further organized into the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Poales, falling under the family Poaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Coix.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Middle Europe, it can be found growing within the borders of both Austria and Germany. Moving toward the coast, its presence extends into Southwestern Europe, specifically throughout France and Spain. Additionally, the species reaches into Southeastern Europe, where it is documented in Greece. Consequently, its range spans a significant longitudinal stretch from the western Mediterranean to the eastern Balkan Peninsula.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Coix lacryma-jobi is characterized by a versatile adaptive capacity, allowing it to thrive across a broad vertical gradient of altitudes. It is found from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 2200 m AMSL, maintaining an average elevational range of approximately 1250 m AMSL. This species frequently colonizes anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), demonstrating a notable ability to integrate into human-modified landscapes and disturbed environments.

Elevational range max:

2200 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1250 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Coix lacryma-jobi is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, completing its entire developmental cycle from germination to seed production within a single growing season. Morphologically, its survival strategy is defined by its life forms, specifically functioning as a therophyte, which relies on seeds to endure unfavorable environmental conditions. Additionally, it exhibits characteristics of a hemicryptophyte, as its perennating buds are typically located at or just below the soil surface, allowing the plant to persist through seasonal shifts before emerging as a vigorous annual specimen.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Coix lacrymata-jobi is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody, graminoid herb. This self-supporting plant exhibits an erect shoot orientation and functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte, as it is strictly terrestrial in its habitat. In terms of stature, the plant reaches a maximum height of 2.5 m, with a mean height of approximately 1 m and a minimum height of 0.9 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2.5 m

Plant height mean:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.9 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Coix lacrym_a-jobi is characterized by a highly efficient C4 photosynthetic pathway, which allows the plant to optimize carbon fixation and thrive in environments with high light intensity and temperature. Its vegetative structure features elongated, linear leaves that vary in width from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 5 cm, with leaf lengths reaching up to a maximum of 45 cm. Morphologically, the plant does not exhibit succulence, maintaining a standard leaf structure rather than storing water in specialized fleshy tissues. Furthermore, Coix lacrym_a-jobi is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external soil nitrogen sources rather than symbiotic relationships to acquire this essential nutrient for its metabolic processes.

Leaf length max:

45 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C4

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Coix lacrym_a-jobi is characterized by a sexual process involving bisexual flowers organized in a raceme inflorescence. The flowering period typically begins in June and continues through October. Pollination is primarily an abiotic process driven by the wind pollination syndrome. Regarding its reproductive efficiency, the plant exhibits an absence of self-fertilization, relying instead on external mechanisms. The resulting fruit contains a yield of 1 to 10 seeds per fruit. These seeds exhibit significant variation in mass, with a minimum weight of 0.0058 g, a mean mass of 0.129869 g, and a maximum mass of 0.28189 g. Dispersal of the seeds follows an unspecialized syndrome, though it is notably categorized as anthropochorous, indicating that human activity plays a role in its distribution.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Oct

Inflorescence :

raceme

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.28189 g

Seed mass mean:

0.129869 g

Seed mass min:

0.0058 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

1-10

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Coix lacryma-jobi has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, root.

Seed

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Journal of oleo science
3. International journal of biological macromolecules

Root

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Chemicals

Coix lacryma-jobi has 83 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ZEARALENONE, STARCH, Flavonoids, 2-O-Glucosyl-7-methoxy-1,4(2H)-benzoxazin-3-one, 4-Ketopinoresinol.

ZEARALENONE

1. Current research in food science
2. Analytica chimica acta
3. Journal of food science
4. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

STARCH

1. Dr. Duke
2. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
3. International journal of biological macromolecules

Flavonoids

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

2-O-Glucosyl-7-methoxy-1,4(2H)-benzoxazin-3-one

1. Dr. Duke

4-Ketopinoresinol

1. Dr. Duke

AFB1

1. Journal of food and drug analysis

AFLATOXIN B1

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

AFLATOXINS

1. Journal of AOAC International

Arachidic acid

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Coix lacryma-jobi has 369 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antioxidant, Gastroprotective, Neuroprotective, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor.

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

Gastroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Neuroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Absorbent

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelopathic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Coix lacryma-jobi has 15 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include analgesic, NAFLD, Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, Toxoplasma gondii, cancer.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations