Digitaria exilis
Fonio
Digitaria exilis, commonly known as finger millet, is a nutrient-dense cereal grain widely cultivated across Africa and Asia. Renowned for its exceptional dietary fiber, minerals, and antioxidants, this resilient crop plays a vital role in food security and traditional medicine, offering significant health benefits for modern nutritional wellness.
- Scientific name: Digitaria exilis
- Family: Poaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Following its placement in the subclass Magnoliidae and order Poales, it is further categorized under the family Poaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Digitaria.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Poales | WCVP |
| Family | Poaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Digitaria | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Digitaria exilis, is widely recognized by several common names across different linguistic groups. In Portuguese, Basque, French, and Catalan, it is referred to as Fonio, while in Yoruba, it is known as Sùúrù.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| pt | Fonio | Wikidata |
| eu | Fonio | Wikidata |
| fr | Fonio | Wikidata |
| yo | Sùúrù | Wikidata |
| ca | Fonio | Wikidata |
| fi | fonio | Wikidata |
| sw | Mfonio | Wikidata |
| id | Fonio | Wikidata |
| de | Foniohirse | Wikidata |
| ja | フォニオ | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, Digitaria exilis, exhibits a specific geographical distribution throughout the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing within the borders of Benin. Additionally, its presence is noted across the landscape of Burkina. The species also extends its range into the territory of Gambia. Finally, the plant is documented to inhabit the region of Guinea-Bissau and Ghana.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Niger | WCVP |
Chemicals
Digitaria exilis has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, apigenin, luteolin, oxalate, tannin.
- Total chemicals
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| apigenin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| luteolin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oxalate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |