Sorghum belongs to the genus Sorghum in Gramineae.
Sorghum is panicum miliaceum. The culm is stout and upright, with a height of 3-5 meters and a transverse diameter of 2-5 cm, and the basal nodes have supporting roots. Leaf sheaths glabrous or a little powdery; Ligule is hard, the apex is round, and the edge is ciliated; Leaf blade is linear to linear-lanceolate, 40-70 cm long and 3-8 cm wide, the apex is tapered, the base is round or slightly ear-shaped, the surface is dark green, the back is light green or white, both sides are hairless, the edge is cartilaginous, with fine bristles, and the midvein is wide and white.
The spike is loose, the main shaft is bare, the length is 15 to 45 cm, and the width is 4 to 10 cm. The total stem is upright or slightly bent. The main axis is longitudinal, sparsely villous, with 3 to 7 branches, whorled, rough or villous, and the base is dense; Each raceme has 3 to 6 nodes, which are rough or slightly flat; Sessile spikelets obovate or obovate-elliptic, 4.5-6 mm long and 3.5-4.5 mm wide, with pure basal plate and bearded hair; Both glumes are leathery, usually hairy on the top and edges, starting with yellow-green, and red to dark brown after maturity; The back of the first glume is convex, the upper half of it is 1/3 thin, the edge is folded with narrow wings, and it is hard and shiny downward, with 12 to 16 veins, only in the middle, with transverse veins and sharp tips or 3 small teeth; The second glume has 7 to 9 veins, the back is convex, the ridge near the top is not obvious, it is slightly boat-shaped with fine hairs on the edge; Lemma is transparent, membranous, the first lemma is lanceolate, with long cilia at the edge; The second lemma is lanceolate to oblong, with 2 to 4 veins, slightly 2-lobed at the top, and a knee-bent awn protruding from the cleft tooth, about14 mm long; Stamens 3, anthers about 3 mm long; Ovary obovate; Style divided, stigma broom-like.
Caryophylls are flat and convex on both sides, 3.5 to 4 mm long, red to reddish brown, 2.5 to 3 mm wide when mature, and slightly exposed at the top. Petiole of pedunculate spikelets is about 2.5 mm long, spikelets are linear to lanceolate, 3 to 5 mm long, male flowers are neutral, persistent, brown to dark reddish brown; The first glume 9 to 12 and the second glume 7 to 10. The flowering and fruiting period is from June to September.
Sorghum seeds become sorghum rice after processing. The main eating method is to cook or grind rice into powder and then make it into other foods, such as noodles, noodles, rolls, pancakes, steamed cakes, sticky cakes and so on. Besides food, sorghum can also be used to make starch, sugar, wine and alcohol.