Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers., Syn. Pl. 1: 101. 1805; Bor, Grasses Burma, Ceyl. Ind. Pak. 222. 1960; Sharma & Khosla, Grasses Punj. & Chandigarh 237. 1989; Kaur & Sharma, Fl. Sirmaur 692. 2004; Singh & Sharma, Fl. Chamba Dist. 821. 2006; Fl. China @ eFloras.org 22: 601; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org p. 295; Holcus halepensis L., Sp. Pl. 1: 1047. 1753; Andropogon halepensis (L.) Brot, Fl. Lusitania. 1: 89. 1804; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 7: 182. 1896; Collett, Fl. Siml. ed. 2: 601. 1921 (Reprint 1980).

Perennial with vigorous spreading rhizomes. Culms slender, simple, sometimes branched, erect or geniculately ascending, up to 1.5 m in height, nodes puberulent. Leaf blades linear-lanceolate, ending in a stiff process, 30-55 cm x 0.5-1 cm, midrib stout; ligule 0.5-1 mm long, membranous, ciliate. Inflorescence a large pyramidal panicle, open, lax, up to 30 cm long; primary branches solitary, paired or in whorls, tipped with racemes. Racemes up to 2.5 cm long bearing 1-5 spikelet-pairs. Each spikelet-pair with one sessile fertile spikelet and 1 (occasionally 2) sterile, pedicelled spikelet. Pedicel filiform, ciliate. Spikelets 2-flowered.

SESSILE SPIKELETS: Ovate-lanceolate, 4-5 mm long, dorsally compressed, awned, green or purplish. Glumes equal; lower glume subleathery, often yellow or yellowish brown at maturity, ovate or elliptic, acute, dorsally flattened, 2-keeled, 5-7-nerved, nerves distinct in upper part, apex 3-denticulate, pubescent; upper glume lanceolate, as long as lower, acuminate, 5-7-nerved, sparsely pubescent. Lower floret: Barren, represented only by glabrous 2-keeled lemma (lower lemma). Upper floret: Bisexual; its lemma (upper lemma) ciliate, 2-lobed, with an awn, up to 1.6 cm long; palea small, hyaline. Stamens 3; dehiscence of anthers by pores. Stigmas 2, plumose.

PEDICELLED SPIKELETS: Nearly as long as sessile spikelets but narrower, lanceolate, awnless, male or barren, 2-flowered. Lower glume lanceolate, 7- nerved, 2-keeled, keels hispid; upper glume similar, 5-nerved. Lower floret: Barren, represented only by sparsely ciliate, 2-keeled lemma (lower lemma). Upper floret: Mostly male; lemma (upper lemma) linear oblong, hyaline. Stamens 3.

Flowering and Fruiting: July to November
Common Names: Johnson Grass, Aleppo Millet grass; Baru, Chinna, Jangli Jowar

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