Species on this page ( A = names approved by most authorities, s = approved as synonyms) :

• Sorghum almum Parodi -> Sorghum x almum Parodi
• Sorghum arundinaceum (Desv.) Stapf ex Prain  ->   Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. arundinaceum (Desv.) de Wet & Harlan
• Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench  A
• Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Bicolor Group)   ->  Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. bicolor
  
• Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Caffrorum Group) -> Sorghum caffrorum (Retz.) P. Beauv.
• Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Caudatum Group)
• Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Dochna Group)  ->    Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. bicolor
• Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Durra Group)
• Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Guinea Group)   ->  Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench
• Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Kafir Group)   ->  Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Caffrorum Group)  -> Sorghum caffrorum (Retz.) P. Beauv.
• Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Saccharatum Group)
• Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Technicum Group)
• Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. arundinaceum (Desv.) de Wet & Harlan
• Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. bicolor
• Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. drummondii (Nees ex Steud.) de Wet & Harlan
• Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench var. caffrorum (Retz.) Mohlenbrock -> Sorghum caffrorum (Retz.) P. Beauv.
• Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench var. cernuum (Arduino) Ghiça -> Sorghum cernuum (Arduino) Host
• Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench var. drummondii (Nees) Mohlenbrock -> Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. drummondii (Nees ex Steud.) de Wet & Harlan
• Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench var. sudanense (Piper) A.S. Hitchc.  ->  Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. drummondii (Nees ex Steud.) de Wet & Harlan
• Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench var. saccharatum Snow.   ->  Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Saccharatum Group)
• Sorghum caffrorum (Retz.) P. Beauv.  
• Sorghum caudatum (Hackel) Stapf ex Prain
• Sorghum caudatum (Hack.) Stapf. ex Prain  (Caudatum Group)  ->   Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Caudatum Group)
• Sorghum caudatum (Hack.) Stapf. ex Prain  (Colorans Group)  ->   Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Caudatum Group)
• Sorghum caudatum (Hack.) Stapf. ex Prain  (Durum Group)  ->   Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Durra Group)
• Sorghum caudatum (Hack.) Stapf. ex Prain  (Feterita Group)  ->   Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Caudatum Group)
• Sorghum cernuum (Arduino) Host
• Sorghum commune P. Beauv.  ->  Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench
• Sorghum dochna (Forsk.) Snowden var. technicum (Koern.) Snowden    ->   Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Technicum Group)
• Sorghum drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase -> Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. drummondii (Nees ex Steud.) de Wet & Harlan
• Sorghum durra (Forssk.) Stapf ex Prain
• Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.
• Sorghum japonicum (Hack.) Roshev. ex Komarov  ->  Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench
• Sorghum nervosum Besser ex Schult.
• Sorghum nigricans (Ruiz & Pav.) Snowden
• Sorghum nitidum (Vahl.) Pers.
• Sorghum propinquum (Kunth) Hitchc.
• Sorghum propinquum (Kunth) Hitchc. var. siamensis Snowden
• Sorghum roxburghii Stapf ex Prain
• Sorghum saccharatum (L.) Moench. convar.  saccharatum  ->   Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Saccharatum Group)
• Sorghum saccharatum (L.) Moench. convar.  technicum (Koern.) Tzvelev  ->   Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Technicum Group)
• Sorghum saccharatum (L.) Moench. var. bicolor (L.) Kerguélen  ->  Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench
• Sorghum saccharatum (L.) Moench. var. sudanense (Piper) Kerguélen   ->   Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. drummondii (Nees ex Steud.) de Wet & Harlan
• Sorghum sativum Husnot  ->  Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench
• Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf ex Prain -> Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. drummondii (Nees ex Steud.) de Wet & Harlan
• Sorghum technicum Batt. & Trab.  ->   Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Technicum Group)
• Sorghum technicum Roshev.  ->   Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Technicum Group)
• Sorghum vulgare Pers. subsp. bicolor (L.) Maire & Weiller  ->  Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench
• Sorghum vulgare Pers. var. bicolor Pers.  ->  Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench
• Sorghum vulgare Pers. var. caffrorum Hubb. & Rehder  ->   Sorghum caffrorum (Retz.) P. Beauv.
• Sorghum vulgare Pers. var. caudatum (Hackel) Hill  ->  Sorghum caudatum (Hack.) Stapf. ex Prain
• Sorghum vulgare Pers. var. technicum (Koern.) Jáv.    ->   Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Technicum Group)
• Sorghum x almum Parodi
• Sorghum x drummondii (Steud.) Millsp. & Chase -> Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. drummondii (Nees ex Steud.) de Wet & Harlan
• Sorghum x sudanense (Piper) Stapf ex Prain -> Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. drummondii (Nees ex Steud.) de Wet & Harlan

SYNONYM(S) : Sorghum almum Parodi.

CHINESE :   杂 高梁  Za gao liang.

ENGLISH : Almum grass, Almum sorghum, Columbus grass, Argentine grass.

FRENCH : Sorgho d'Argentine, Sorgho fourrager.

GERMAN : Kolumbusgras, Columbusgras.

JAPANESE : Burakku sorugamu.

SPANISH : Sorgo negro, Garaví.

SYNONYM(S) : Andropogon bicolor (L.) Roxb., Andropogon sorghum Brot., Andropogon sorghum Brot. subsp. sativus Hack. ex A. DC. & C. DC., Andropogon vulgaris (Pers.) Raspail, Holcus arduini Gmel., Holcus bicolor L., Holcus sorghum L., Sorghum commune P. Beauv., Sorghum japonicum (Hack.) Roshev. ex Komarov,  Sorghum sativum Husnot, Sorghum saccharatum (L.) Moench.  var. bicolor (L.) Kerguélen, Sorghum vulgare Pers. subsp. bicolor (L.) Maire & Weiller, Sorghum vulgare Pers. var. bicolor Pers.

ASSAMESE :  যুৱাৰ  Zuwar.

BENGALI :  Jowar.

BURMESE : Shallu ? Burmese or English ?

CHINESE :  高 梁  Gao liang.

ENGLISH :  Great millet, Guinea corn, Sorghum, Sorgo.

FRENCH : Sorgho.

GERMAN : Mohrenhirse, Kaffernhirse.

GUJARATI :  જુવાર  Jowar, Jowari, Juar. 
HINDI :  जॊवार  Jowar (Javār, Jwar),  Jowari, Juar, जौवार  Juwar (Jauvāra).

ITALIAN : Sorgo coltivato.

JAPANESE : Morokoshi, Sorugamu.

KANNADA :  ಜೋಳ  JoLa.
MARATHI :   Jondhala,   ज्वारी  Jwāri, जोवारी Jōvārī (Jowari).

ORIYA :  Juara.

PUNJABI :  Jowar.

RUSSIAN :  Сорго зерновое ,  Сорго обыкновенное  Sorgo obyknovennoe.

SPANISH : Maiz guineo, Millo, Sorgo común, Sorgo de grano, Sorgo de Guinea.

SWAHILI :  Mtama.

TAMIL : Cholam,   கருஞ்சோளம்  Karuncoolam.

TELUGU :  జొన్న  Jonna, Jonnalu.
THAI : Kao liang (Transcript. of Chinese name), Khao fang, Khao fang hang chang, Khao fang samut khodom, Khao khuang (Don Daeng), Khao pang hang chang, Samut khodom (Central Thailand).

URDU :  جوار   Javar.

Common names for sorghum in a broad sense: shallu (Myanmar); jowar, cholam, chari, durra (India); feterita, dura, durra, gafuli (Africa), bachanta  (Ethiopia)  

SYNONYM(S) : Sorghum durra (Forssk.) Stapf ex Prain, Sorghum durra Snow. , Sorghum vulgare Pers. var. durra (Forsk.) Hubbard & Rehd. 

CHINESE : Li yong gao liang, Shi yong gao liang, Xiao mi (grain), Ying gao liang cao (as S. durra), 硬 秆高梁  Yin gan gao liang.

DANISH : Durrah, Durra.

DUTCH : Dari, Durrha.

ENGLISH : Large seeded sorghum, Brown durra, African sorghum, Egyptian grain sorghum, Indian grain sorghum, Grain sorghum, Shallu, Durra, Durha, "Milo".

FINNISH : Durra.

FRENCH : Doura, Dari, Sorgho durra, Sorgho douro.

GERMAN : Durra.

ITALIAN : Dura, Durra.

JAPANESE : Azuki morokoshi.

NORWEGIAN : Brundurra, Kvastdurra.

PORTUGUESE : .

RUSSIAN :    Бурое дурра  Buroe durra,    Дурра  Durra,   Сорго африканское   Sorgo afrikanskoe.

SPANISH : Durra, Sorgo durra, Doura, Zahina.

SWEDISH : Durra, Kvastdurra.

TURKISH : Zura.

SYNONYM(S) : Andropogon sorghum subsp. sativus var. saccharatus Hack. ex A. DC. & C. DC.,  Holcus sorghum  var. saccharatus L.H. Bailey, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench var. saccharatum Snow., Sorghum saccharatum (L.) Moench, Sorghum saccharatum (L.) Moench convar. saccharatum, Sorghum vulgare Pers. var. saccharatum (L.) Boerl.

ARABIC : Miknis.

CHINESE : Lu shu, Lu su, Lu shu tian gao liang, Tian gao liang.

DANISH : Sukkerdurra, Sukkerhirse, Sukkersorghum.

DUTCH : Suikersorgho, Suikergierst, Suiker-sorghum.

ENGLISH : Sweet sorghum, Sugar sorghum.

FINNISH : Sokerihirssi.

FRENCH : Sorgho sucrier, Sorgho à sucre, Sorgho sucré.

GERMAN : Zuckerhirse, Zucker-Mohrenhirse, Zuckerrohr.

ITALIAN : Sorgo zuccherino, Sorgo saccarifero, Saggina a spazzola, Saggina da zucchero, Saggina rossa.

JAPANESE : Satou morokoshi (Satô morokoshi).

NORWEGIAN : Sukkersorghum.

PORTUGUESE :  Sorgo-do-açúcar, Sorgo sacarino.

RUSSIAN :  Сахарное сорго   Sakharnoe sorgo,  Сорго сахарное Sorgo sakharnoe.

SPANISH :  Sorgo azucarero (Argentina), Sorgo azucarado, Sorgo dulce, Sorgo sacarífero.

SWEDISH : Sockerdurra.

SYNONYM(S) : Sorghum aethiopicum (Hackel) Rupr. ex Stapf , Sorghum arundinaceum (Desv.) Stapf , Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench var. aethiopicum (Hack.) de Wet & Huckabay, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench var. virgatum (Hack.) de Wet & Huckabay, Sorghum lanceolatum Stapf , Sorghum verticilliflorum (Steud.) Stapf, Sorghum virgatum (Hack.) Stapf

CHINESE : Ye gao liang.

ENGLISH : Common wild sorghum.

FRENCH : Sorgho sauvage.

SPANISH :   Falso johnson  (Venezuela), Pasta silvestre, Pasto silvestre, Sorgo silvestre.  

SYNONYM(S) : Holcus bicolor L., Holcus sorghum L. ,  Sorghum dochna (Forsk.) Snowden,   Sorghum subglabrescens Schweinf. & Aschers., Sorghum vulgare Pers.   

CHINESE : Gao liang, Liang se gao liang, Shu shu (as S. vulgare), 甜 高梁  Tian gao liang  (as S. dochna).

ENGLISH : Grain sorghum.

FRENCH : Sorgho à grain, Sorgho cultivé.

JAPANESE : Sorugamu.

PORTUGUESE :  Sorgo.

SPANISH :   Millo, Millo criollo, Sorgo.

SYNONYM(S) : Andropogon drummondii Nees ex Steud., Andropogon sorghum subsp. sudanensis Piper, Andropogon sudanensis (Piper) Leppan & Bosman, Holcus sorghum subsp. sudanensis (Piper) Hitchc., Holcus sorghum var. drummondii (Nees) Hitchc.,  Holcus sudanensis (Piper) L.H. Bailey,  Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench var. drummondii (Nees ex Steud.) Mohlenbrock, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench var. sudanense (Piper) A.S. Hitchc., Sorghum drummondii (Nees ex Steud.) Millsp. & Chase p.p. , Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. var. sudanense (Piper) Soó, Sorghum saccharatum (L.) Moench var. sudanense (Piper) Kerguélen, Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf , Sorghum vulgare Pers. var. drummondii (Nees ex Steud.) Hack. ex Chiov., Sorghum vulgare Pers. var. sudanense (Piper) Hitchc.

ARABIC : Hhash. es sûdân.

CHINESE :   苏 丹草   Su dan cao (as S. sudanense), Gao liang su dan cao za jiao zhong (as S. x sudanense).

DUTCH : Soedangras.

ENGLISH : Chicken corn (as S. drummondii), Sudangrass (USA), Sudan grass.

FRENCH : Sorgho adventice, Sorgho du Soudan, Sorgho menu.

GERMAN : Sudangras, Soudanicshe Sorghogras.

ITALIAN : Erba sudanese, Erba di Sudan.

JAPANESE :  Chikinkoo (as S. drummondii), Suudan gurasu (as S. sudanense).

PORTUGUESE :  Capim-Sudão, Sorgo forrageiro.

RUSSIAN :  Сорго суданское  Sorgo sudanskoe (as S. sudanense).

SPANISH : Hierba del Sudan, Pasto Sudán, Sorgo de Sudán, Sorgo sudan forrajero.

SWEDISH : Sudangräs.

TURKISH : Sudan otu.

Photograph of seeds at Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Lyon, France.

SYNONYM(S) : Andropogon caffrorum Kunth, Andropogon sorghum var. arduini Alef., Holcus cafer Arduino, Holcus caffrorum Thunb., Holcus sorghum L. var. caffrorum L.H. Bailey, Panicum caffrorum Retz., Sorghum arduini Jacq., Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench var. caffrorum (Retz.) Mohlenbrock,   Sorghum vulgare Pers. var. caffrorum Hubb. & Rehder

CHINESE : Nan fei gao liang, 卡 佛尔高梁 .

ENGLISH : African sorghum, Kaffircorn.

NORWEGIAN : Kaffer.

RUSSIAN :   Кафир  Kafir, Сорго кафрское  Sorgo kafrskoe.

SPANISH :  Sorgo granífero (Argentina).

SYNONYM(S) : Andropogon sorghum subsp. sativus var. caudatus Hack. ex A. DC. & C. DC., Holcus sorghum L. var. caudatus L.H. Bailey, Sorghum eplicatum Chiov. var. hackelii Chiov., Sorghum vulgare Pers. var. caudatum (Hackel) Hill

CHINESE : Xi fei gao liang.

ENGLISH : West African grain sorghum, Black-seeded sorghum, Feterita.

JAPANESE : Beni kooryan.

SPANISH :  Sorgo rojo.

Perhaps  Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Caudatum Group) would be appropriate ?

SYNONYM(S) :  Sorghum caudatum (Hack.) Stapf. var. feterita Stapf ex Prain, Sorghum caudatum (Hack.) Stapf. var. gassabi Massey

CHINESE :  非 洲芦栗 

ENGLISH :  Sudanese sorghum, Soft-seeded sorghum.

FRENCH :  Sorgho feterita.

JAPANESE :   フェ テリタス、モロコシ

PORTUGUESE : 

SPANISH : 

Perhaps  Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Caudatum Group) would be appropriate ?

SYNONYM(S) : Holcus cernuus Ard., Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. var. cernuum (Arduino) Ghiça,  Sorghum vulgare Pers. var. cernuum Fiori & Paol.

CHINESE : Yin du gao liang, xxx xxx sui gao liang cao, 弯 头高梁.

ENGLISH : Indian grain sorghum, White durra, Jerusalem durra, Egyptian millet.

FRENCH : Sorgho blanc, Sorgho penché, Riz égyptien.

GERMAN : Nickende Mohrenhirse.

ITALIAN : Miglio.

NORWEGIAN : Hvitdurra.  

RUSSIAN :    Белая дурра    Belaia durra,    Джугара  Dzhugara (Džugara).

TURKISH : Misir darisi, Dari (no dot on any i).

SYNONYM(S) : Andropogon halepense Sibthorp, Holcus halepensis L., Sorghum miliaceum (Roxb.) Snowden

CHINESE :   石 茅 Shi mao,    Shi mao gao liang, Si yong gao liang.

ENGLISH : Cuba grass, Guinea grass, Johnson grass.

FRENCH : Herbe de Cuba, Herbe de Guinée, Houlque d' Alep, Sorgho d'Alep, Sorgho fourrager.

GERMAN : Wilde Mohrenhirse.

ITALIAN : Sorgo selvatico

PORTUGUESE : Sorgo-bravo.

RUSSIAN :    Гумай  Gumai ,  Сорго алепское   Sorgo alepskoe.

SPANISH : Cañota, Paja johnson (Venezuela), Pasto silvestre, Sorgo silvestre, Sorgo de Alepo (Argentina).

THAI : Ya phong (Northern Thailand), Ya pong.

SYNONYM(S) : Sorghum nervosum Snow.

CHINESE :  多 脉高梁 Duo mai gao liang,     Duo mai gao liang cao, Shu, Zhong guo gao liang, Gao liang mi (husked sorghum), Shu mi (husked sorghum).

ENGLISH : Chinese sorghum, Brown seeded sorghum, Kaoliang.

FRENCH : Gros mill ?

GERMAN : Grosse Hirse, Japanische Mohrenhirse.

JAPANESE : Morokoshi kibi, Kouryan.

NORWEGIAN : Kjempehirse.

RUSSIAN :     Гаолян   Gaolian.

SPANISH : Sorgo kaoliang.

SWEDISH : Jättehirs, Gaoliang.

ENGLISH : Beer sorghum.

SYNONYM(S) :  Andropogon nitidus (Vahl) Kunth, Holcus nitidus Vahl, Holcus fulvus R. Brown

CHINESE : Cao shu shu,   光 高梁  Guang gao liang.

JAPANESE : Ko morokoshi gaya.

THAI : Ya hang ma.

JAPANESE : Morokoshi gaya.

SYNONYM(S) :   Andropogon propinquus Kunth, Andropogon halepensis (L.) Brotero var. propinquus (Kunth) Hackel,  Andropogon sorghum (L.) Brotero var. propinquus (Kunth) Hackel.

CHINESE :    拟 高梁  Ni gao liang , 擬高梁  Ni gao liang (Taiwan),  Ye gao liang.  

ENGLISH : Sorghum weed.

FRENCH : Sorgho sauvage.

ITALIAN : Sorgo selvatico.

SPANISH :   Sorgo silvestre.

THAI : Ya phong (Ayutthaya).

This Thai name seems to apply to several wild species. Some epithets are needed to separate the various species.

SYNONYM(S) : Sorghum roxburghii Snow., Sorghum vulgare Pers. var. roxburghii  (Stapf) Haines

CHINESE : Bao lie zhong gao liang.

ENGLISH : Indian sorghum, Popping sorghum, Shallu.

JAPANESE : Shaaru.

RUSSIAN :    Шаллю  Shallju,  Сорго Роксбурга Sorgo Roksburga.

Sorghum would have to be one of the most taxonomically neglected "major" crops of the world. At some point, due to its exceptional diversity, taxonomists recognized 18 subspecies. Today subsp. have mostly given way to cultivated groups, a few "names" having been dropped along the way. At least a dozen of the previously recognized species are now considered as synonyms of S. bicolor. The Flora of Chinese Sorghum Varieties counted at some point in excess of 900 edible varieties, 50 industrial var. and 14 sugar var. It is not all clear which botanical name (s) should be placed on them, but the grouping system allows to slot them in fairly accurately. It is undisputable that all the true sorghums belong to Sorghum bicolor. The difficulty is to find appropriate subdivisions. Cultivar groups again are a logical progression but which language should be used to describe these groups ? Latin ? English ? or carefully chosen words that can be translated in order to make sense to most people ? "Saccharatum" is a good example that can be easily translated as "Sweet", but what does one call the popping types or the tannin-free or the free-threshing types ? Meanwhile the misleading habit of naming cultivars with numbers should be discouraged because if meaningful at all on a very restricted scale, in communication terms it means nothing at all internationally.

Auct. 2003, Dossier Sorgho. < www.olivierweb.ovh.org/agro/sorgho.php >. Excellent background on the genus Sorghum (in French).

FAO, 1995, Le sorgho et les mils dans la nutrition humaine (Collection FAO: Alimentation et nutrition, no 27). < http://www.fao.org/inpho/vlibrary/t0818f/T0818F01.htm >.

González Manuel, 2003, Sorgo Taxonomía. Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, México. Campus Querétaro, Cultivos Extensivos. < http://www.qro.itesm.mx/agronomia2/extensivos/Taxonomia_sorgo.html >. A good modern synoptic representation of the genus.

IPK Gatersleben, 2002, Mansfeld's World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops. < http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/mansfeld/taxonomy/search_names-mf.htm >.

Mabberley D.J. 1997, Second Edition, The Plant Book - A Portable Dictionary of the Vascular Plants, Cambridge University Press.

USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

USDA, NRCS. 2002. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Plants Profiles - Sorghum. (Time Generated: Thur 9:02 AM - 08/15/2002).

Wiersema & León, 1999, World Economic Plants, A Standard Reference, CRC Press.

Yasue (Prof.), 2003, Sorghum Names, Online Plant Album, Miyagi University of Education, Japan. < http://plant.csr.miyakyo-u.ac.jp/ >.

Date created: 12 / 11 / 1996
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Last modified: 16 / 02 / 2012
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