Proso millet is an annual grass. It is a cereal which was already cultivated 7,000 years ago. Nowadays it is often grown for birdseed or it is sold as health food.
Proso millet grows in a wide range of soil and climatic conditions. It has the lowest water requirement of all cereals, which makes it suitable for drier climates.
Names
Scientific
Panicum miliaceum
English
Common millet
Hog millet
Proso millet
White millet
Dutch
Gele gierst
Gierst
Goudgierst
Pluimgierst
Spanish
Mijo común
French
Millet commun
German
Echte Hirse
Rispenhirse
Italian
Miglio
Taxonomy
Genus
Panicum
Family
Poaceae
Order
Poales
Basic information and facts
Origin:
Not sure but probably China or South Caucasus.
Height:
About 1 meter
Grains:
Seedheads of Proso grow in bunches.
Seeds are 2 to 3 mm in diameter with a variation in color (cream, yellow, orange-red, brown).
Uses:
Nowadays often grown as fodder or for birdseed.
Did you know that?
- Several small grain cereals are all known by the name “Millet” but are actually different crop species.
- Proso millet lacks gluten, so it can be included in the diets of people who cannot tolerate gluten and thus cannot eat wheat.