Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.

Spice

Family: GRAMINEAE (POACEAE)

Genus: Sorghum

Catalan common name: Almussafes. Alzira. Canyamussa. Canyet. Canyota. Carlet. Cervelló. El catllar. Porrera.

Spanish common name: Cañota. Millaca. Sorgo.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Some regions

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Geophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Path and road sides.

Characteristics: A relatively large Gramene, which can reach two metres in height. It lives along path-sides and farmlands and is a plant introduced in our flora. The leaves are not more than two centimetres broad, this feature distinguishes it from Sorghum bicolor which has broader leaves as well as being an annual species whereas Sorghum halepense is perennial and has a rhizome. The inflorescence is characteristic because the spikelets, reddish in colour, are grouped in twos or threes on the stalks, the lower one is hermaphrodite whereas the upper one is pediculate and usually male. It flowers in summer and autumn.