Jowar

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• broomcorn
• sorghum
• Great Millet
• Creole Corn
• Guinea Corn
• Rhodesian Sudan grass
• Forage Sorghum
• Sorghums

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Milium bicolor
• Andropogon bicolor
• Rhaphis sorghum
• Holcus bicolor
• Sorghum saccharatum var. bicolor
• Holcus sorghum
• Milium sorghum
• Sorghum saccharatum var. vulgare
• Sorghum vulgare subsp. bicolor
• Sorghum vulgare var. bicolor
• Andropogon sorghum
• Andropogon sorghum var. bicolor

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Poales, it is a member of the family Poaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Sorghum, specifically as the species Sorghum bicolor.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse presence across several regions within the European continent. In Northern Europe, its distribution can be observed in Great Britain, Ireland, and Sweden. Moving toward the central part of the continent, the species is also found in Middle Europe. Specifically, it inhabits the territories of both Austria and Belgium. These varied locations highlight the plant's ability to establish itself in different European climates.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Sorghum bicolor is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to a wide range of environmental conditions, particularly within human-modified landscapes. It primarily thrives in anthropogenic habitats (Área Antrópica), often occurring in agricultural fields, disturbed soils, and cultivated areas where human activity has shaped the local ecosystem. This species exhibits a significant vertical distribution capacity, occupying an expansive elevational range that spans from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 2500 m AMSL. This broad altitudinal tolerance allows it to colonize diverse topographical zones, facilitating its establishment in various climatic gradients and ecological niches.

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Sorghum bicolor is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire biological cycle—from germination and vegetative growth to flowering and seed production—within a single growing season. In terms of its structural life form, it is categorized as a therophyte, a growth habit where the plant survives unfavorable seasons through ephemeral seeds that remain dormant until conditions become favorable for the next generation. This life strategy allows the species to rapidly exploit seasonal resources and colonize diverse environments through a complete life cycle that concludes once the reproductive stage is finished.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Sorghum bicolor is characterized by a graminoid growth form, functioning as a non-woody herb. It is a terrestrial plant that grows independently, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. The plant exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit, though it is fundamentally a self-supporting structure rather than a liana or vine. Its shoot orientation is distinctly erect, contributing to its stature. The plant height is highly variable depending on environmental conditions, with measurements ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 5 m, maintaining a mean plant height of approximately 2.87 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

2.86666666666667 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sorghum bicolor is characterized by highly efficient metabolic and morphological adaptations, most notably its utilization of the C4 photosynthetic pathway, which allows for superior carbon fixation efficiency in warm environments. The plant exhibits a non-succulent and non-carnivorous growth habit, relying on standard nutrient uptake rather than nitrogen fixation or specialized carnivorous mechanisms. Its leaf morphology is substantial, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 30 cm to a maximum of 60 cm, and leaf widths varying between a minimum and mean of 5 cm up to a maximum of 10 cm. These structural dimensions contribute to a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 228.1 cm²/g, reflecting a specific balance between leaf thickness and surface area optimized for its environmental niche.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

60 cm

Leaf length min:

30 cm

Leaf width max:

10 cm

Leaf width mean:

5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C4

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

228.1 cm²/g

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sorghum bicolor is characterized by a flowering period that typically begins in July and concludes in October. The plant produces brown-colored flowers arranged in a panicle inflorescence. Its pollination syndrome is categorized as abiotic, specifically utilizing wind as the primary mechanism for pollen transfer. While the plant exhibits the presence of self-fertilization, it does not engage in asexual reproduction. The resulting fruit is characterized by its dryness. The seeds produced during this process vary in mass, with a mean weight of approximately 0.01204 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.003 g to a maximum of 0.0204 g. Morphologically, the seeds maintain consistent dimensions, featuring a mean length of 2.5 mm (ranging from 2.5 to 2.5 mm), a mean width of 1.5 mm (ranging from 1.5 to 1.5 mm), and a consistent seed volume of 9.3 mm³. Dispersal of the seeds is achieved through an unspecialized syndrome, though it is also noted to be anthropochorous, indicating human-mediated dispersal.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

brown

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit dryness :

dry

Inflorescence :

panicle

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length mean:

2.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0204 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0120415556666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.003 g

Seed volume max:

9.3 mm³

Seed width mean:

1.5 mm

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Sorghum bicolor has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Current drug safety
2. International journal of rheumatic diseases

Root

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

Chemicals

Sorghum bicolor has 46 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Tannin, Flavonoids, Tannins, Ash, STARCH.

Tannin

1. The British journal of nutrition
2. International journal of food sciences and nutrition
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Tropical and geographical medicine

Flavonoids

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Nutrients
3. Frontiers in nutrition

Tannins

1. Nutrients
2. Frontiers in nutrition
3. The British journal of nutrition

Ash

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

STARCH

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

polyphenols

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Nutrients

4-Methoxycinnamic acid

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

5-ethoxy-sorgoleone

1. Journal of natural products

A1

1. Journal of protein chemistry

A2

1. Journal of protein chemistry

Activities

Sorghum bicolor has 2 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticomplement, Antioxidant.

Anticomplement

1. Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology

Antioxidant

1. Nutrients

Medicinal Uses

Sorghum bicolor has 17 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include salinity, drought, COVID-19, HIV, abiotic stress.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations