Sorghum bicolor, commonly called
sorghum and also known as
great millet,
durra,
jowari, or
milo, is a
grass species cultivated for its grain, which is used for food, both for animals and humans, and for ethanol production. Sorghum originated in northern Africa, and is now cultivated widely in tropical and subtropical regions.
Sorghum is the world's fifth most important
cereal crop after
rice,
wheat,
maize and
barley.
S. bicolor is typically an annual, but some cultivars are perennial. It grows in clumps that may reach over 4 m high. The grain is small, ranging from 3 to 4 mm in diameter.
Sweet sorghums are sorghum cultivars that are primarily grown for foliage, syrup production, and ethanol; they are taller than those grown for grain.