Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench nothosubsp. drummondii (Nees ex Steud.) de Wet ex Davidse

synonyms: Sorghum x drummondii, Sorghum vulgare var. sudanense, Andropogon sorghum subsp. sudanensis, Holcus sorghum subsp. sudanensis, Andropogon sudanensis

sudan grass

Info

Subfamily: Panicoideae
Genus etymology: Sorghum = "sorghum" [italian]
Species etymology: bicolor = "two colored" [Latin] reference unclear; drumundii = honorific for Thomas Drummond (c. 1790–1835)
Photosynthetic type: C₄ (warm season)
Nativity: naturalized - intentional
First recorded in Hawaiʻi: 1914

Map

Distribution of Sorghum bicolor nothosubsp. drummondii in Hawaiʻi.

Inflorescence

Plant

Habit

Spikelets

Culm base

Description

Plants annual. Culms to 4 m, relatively stout. Rames usually tardily disarticulating, mostly with 3-5 nodes. Sessile spikelets 5-6 mm, lanceolate to elliptic. Caryopses not exposed at maturity.
(Description source: Barkworth, M.E., Capels, K.M., Long, S. & Piep, M.B. (eds.) 2003. Flora of North America, north of Mexico. Volume 25. Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Poaceae, Part 2. Oxford University Press, New York. 783 pp http://floranorthamerica.org/Sorghum_x_drummondii )

All photos are by Kevin Faccenda unless otherwise noted and are licensed under a Creative Commons CC BY license. All images by others are licensed under CC BY NC license or are used with permission