Japanese name: トウジンビエ（唐人稗） Scientific name:Pennisetum glaucum
[Overview]
An annual 1–3 m tall.
The leaves are simple, 20–100 cm long and 2–5 cm wide, with tips that droop gently.
The nodes are densely covered with hairs.
A cylindrical flower spike 40–50 cm long and 1.5–2.5 cm wide at the stem tip bears many densely packed spikelets.
[History]
Thought to be native to Africa, it has been cultivated in Africa and India since prehistoric times and is still widely grown around the world today.
[Uses]
It is used as a minor cereal for food and fodder.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained, poor soil.
It is hardy and easy to grow.
For potted plants, water thoroughly after the soil has dried; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
If base fertilizer is applied, no further fertilizing is particularly necessary.
There are no particular pests or diseases.
