Sorghum
Sorghum, commonly known as millet in many regions, is a versatile cereal crop valued for its nutritional and medicinal properties. Rich in antioxidants and essential minerals, it supports digestive health, aids in blood sugar management, and offers anti-inflammatory benefits, making it a powerful functional food in traditional medicine.
- Scientific name: Sorghum
- Family: Poaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically classified within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Following the order Poales, it is a member of the family Poaceae. Finally, the species is categorized under the genus Sorghum.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Poales | WCVP |
| Family | Poaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Sorghum | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant is known by various common names depending on the language and region. In Arabic, it is referred to as ذرة, while in Asturian, it is called Sorgu. In Belarusian, it is known as Сорга, in Bulgarian as сорго, and in Catalan, it is identified as sorgo.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ar | ذرة | Wikidata |
| ast | Sorgu | Wikidata |
| be | Сорга | Wikidata |
| bg | сорго | Wikidata |
| ca | sorgo | Wikidata |
| cs | čirok | Wikidata |
| cy | sorgwm | Wikidata |
| da | Durra | Wikidata |
| el | Σόργο | Wikidata |
| eo | Sorgo | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several regions in Europe. In Northern Europe, its distribution includes Great Britain, Ireland, and Sweden. Moving toward Middle Europe, the plant is also found growing in Austria. Additionally, its geographical range extends to Belgium within the central part of the continent. Together, these locations demonstrate a broad ecological adaptability across different European climates.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Switzerland | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Baleares | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as sorghum, possesses various components that contribute to its biological structure and agricultural utility. The primary interest for consumption lies in the sorghum grains, which are harvested as a nutritious sorghum grain for both human and animal diets. At the foundation of the plant, the sorghum roots anchor it into the soil and facilitate the absorption of essential nutrients and water. While the sorghum seed serves as the starting point for cultivation, it is important to note that in certain botanical or pathological contexts, one might encounter a sclerotium, a hardened mass of fungal mycelium that can sometimes affect the health of the crop.- Total parts
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| sorghum seed | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sorghum roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sorghum grains | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sorghum grain | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sclerotium | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Sorghum has 18 reported phytochemicals identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Sb, amylopectin, amylose, ascorbic acid, chlorophyll a.
- Total chemicals
- 18
- Scientific sources
- 18
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Sb | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| amylopectin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| amylose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ascorbic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chlorophyll a | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chlorophyll b | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| condensed tannins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cystine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dhurrin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethanol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Sorghum has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Sorghum has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include drought tolerance.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| drought tolerance | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |