Paspalum scrobiculatum

Kodo Millet

ative

Photo: Ankush Dave

Common name: Kodo Millet, Rice grass, Creeping paspalum, Ditch grass • Bengali: কোদোঅ ধান Kodoa dhan • Hindi: कोदो Kodo, कोदरा Kodra, कोदनू Kodnu • Kannada: ಆರಕ Aaraka, ಆರಿಕೆ Arike, ಹಾರಕ Haaraka, ಉನ್ನಾಳ Unnaala, ಬರಗು Baragu • Malayalam: Varaku • Marathi: हरीक Hareek, हरिक Harik, कोदरा Kodra • Nepali: कोदे बन्सो Kode Banso, जनै घाँस Janai Ghaans • Sanskrit: कोद्दरा Koddara, कोदरावा Kodrava, कोदरावः Kodravah • Tamil: Chamarutachchiivaram, Chantirakikam, Chantirakikavarichi • Telugu: Allu, Alu, Arige chettu • Urdu: Kodon ﻛﻮﺩﻭﻥ

Botanical name: Paspalum scrobiculatum Family: Poaceae (Grass family)
Synonyms: Paspalum serpens, Paspalum virgatum

Kodo Millet is an annual grass that grows to a height of approximately 4 feet. It has an inflorescence that produces 4-6 racemes that are 4-9 cm long. Its slender, light green leaves grow to be 20-40 cm long. The seeds it produces are very small and ellipsoidal, being approximately 1.5 mm in width and 2 mm in length; they vary in color from being light brown to a dark grey. Kodo millet has a shallow root system which may be ideal for intercropping. Kodo Millet is native to Africa, Tropical & Subtropical Asia to Australia.

Identification credit: Sushant Sharma

Photographed in Aranya Ashram, Mandla, Madhya Pradesh.

• Is this flower misidentified? If yes,