Hobbies And Interests
Milo
Milo sorghums come from East Africa. They have wavy leaf blades and the blades have a yellow midrib. Milo seeds are large and pale yellow or white in color. The seed heads are compact and oval with awns, or stiff bristles; the stem is goose-necked. This variety matures late, but earlier than kafir sorghums. It tolerates wet conditions and can be irrigated.
Kafir
Kafir sorghums come from South Africa. They have juicier stems than milo sorghums and large leaves. The medium-size seeds may be shades ranging from red to white. The panicle, or flower head, of kafir sorghums is cylindrical and without awns. Sorghums grown in the United States are usually a cross between milo and kafir varieties.
Feterita
Feterita sorghums originated in Sudan. This grass tends to be dry and erect with compact and oval-shaped panicles. Feterita seeds are white, large and soft. Feterita sorghums mature early, producing a crop even under low-water conditions. The leaves of this sorghum are less numerous.
Durra
Durra sorghums come from the Mediterranean and the Near and Middle East. They have oval panicles that may be hairy with large, flat seeds. The panicles may be closed or open. The heads of the dura sorghums are goose-necked and bearded. Durra sorghums stems are dry. A dwarf variety of durra is favored in North America and white durra was once cultivated under the name of Jerusalem or Egyptian corn.
Shallu
Shallu sorghums have dry and slender stems. They come originally from India and require a long growing season because the seeds develop late. These seeds are white and pearlescent. When mature, the seeds are exposed. This sorghum is tall and has a loose panicle. It is a variety favored in the Gulf Coast states.
Koaliang
Koaliang sorghums are grown in China and Japan. They have been of economic importance for thousands of years in China, providing grain, sugar and animal forage. Koaliang sorghums have dry stems. The stems are woody and slender. Like feterita sorghum, koaliang sorghums have few leaves. The panicles of this plant are semi-compact. The seeds have a bitter taste and are small and brown. This sorghum matures early, allowing more northern cultivation, but it gives a low yield.
Hegari
Similar to kafir sorghums, hegari sorghums have white seeds and almost oval panicles. Hegari sorghums often produce lateral shoots, or suckers, from the base of the stem, a growth characteristic known as tillering. Hegari sorghums come from Sudan. They are variable in time to maturity and yield.