Panicum sumatrense

Panicum sumatrense, known as little millet, is a species of millet in the family Poaceae.

Description

This species of cereal is similar in habit to the proso millet except that it is smaller. It is an annual herbaceous plant, which grows straight or with folded blades to a height of to. The leaves are linear, with the sometimes hairy laminae and membranous hairy ligules. The panicles are from in length with long awn. The grain is round and smooth, long.

Subspecies

There have been two subspecies described:

Panicum sumatrense Roth ex Roem. & Schult. subsp. psilopodium Wet.
Panicum sumatrense Roth ex Roem. & Schult. subsp. ''sumatrense''

Distribution and habitat

In the temperate zones of Asia: the Caucasus, China, East Asia and also in the tropics of the continent: India, Indochina and Malaysia.
It can withstand both drought and waterlogging. It can be cultivated up to above sea level.
At the Indus Valley Civilisation sites of Harappa and Farmana, the millet assemblage was dominated by little millet. Over 10,000 grains of little millet were recovered at Harappa. At Harappa, little millet cultivation peaked at around 2600 BCE, accounting for around 5% of the total cereal assemblage.

Cultivation

The largest cultivation is in central India. Usually, it is planted using a seed drill. It can also if necessary be planted spoiled. The green plant can also be used in part as cattle feed. The straw can be mixed with clay or cement be used in construction.
The harvest yield is from 230 to 900 kg/ha.