sorghum

Sorghum is a type of grass that was originally cultivated in Africa to provide grain for animal fodder and to make flour for bread or porridge. There are other kinds of sorghums which have been used to provide hay, molasses or syrup, and even brushes and brooms.

Any of a group of cereal grasses native to Africa but cultivated widely in India, China, the USA, and southern Europe. The seeds are used for making bread. Durra is a member of the genus. (Genus Sorghum.)

Around 58 million tonnes of sorghum are grown worldwide on 44 million hectares. It is vulnerable to the fungus ergot, which can destroy whole crops. In 1994 a simple fungicidal spray of garlic and water was found to be nearly 100% successful in combatting ergot.