Echinochloa colona

Echinochloa colona
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
(unranked):	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Subfamily:	Panicoideae
Genus:	Echinochloa
Species:	E. colona
Binomial name
Echinochloa colona (L.) Link
Synonyms
Panicum colonum L. Echinochloa colonum (L.) Link (lapsus) Echinochloa equitans (Hochst ex A. Rich.) Hubb. ex Troup. Echinochloa zonalis (Guss.) Parl. Milium colonum (L.) Moench Oplismenus clonus (L.) Kunth Oplismenus muticus Philippi Oplismenus repens J. Presl Panicum equitans Hochst. ex A. Rich. Panicum incertum Bosc ex Steud. Panicum musei Steud. Panicum prorepens Steud. Panicum zonale Guss.

Echinochloa colona is a type of wild grass originating from tropical Asia. It was formerly classified as a species of Panicum. It is the wild ancestor of the cultivated cereal crop Echinochloa frumentacea, sawa millet.^[1] Some taxonomists treat the two taxa as one species, in which case the domesticated forms may also be referred to as E. colona.

Distribution and habitat

The grass occurs throughout tropical Asia and Africa in fields and along roadsides. It is naturalized in North America.^[2]

In culinary use

In India seeds of this grass are used to prepare a food dish called khichadi ^[3]and are consumed during festival fasting days. In Gujarati is called "Samo" (સામો) or "Moriyo" (મોરિયો) in Marathi it is called 'bhagar' (भगर) or "Vari cha Tandul" (वरी चा तांदुळ), in Hindi it is called "Mordhan" (मोरधन)or "Sava ka chawal" (सवा का चावल).

References

1. Hilu, Khidir W. (1994). "Evidence from RAPD markers in the evolution of Echinochloa millets (Poaceae)". Plant Systematics and Evolution 189 (3): 247–257. doi:10.1007/BF00939730.
2. "Echinochloa colona". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 8 April 2013.

External links

• Echinochloa colona. UC Davis IPM.

• Echinochloa colona in West African plants – A Photo Guide.