Echinochloa colona | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Monocots |
(unranked): | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Poaceae |
Subfamily: | Panicoideae |
Genus: | Echinochloa |
Species: | E. colona |
Binomial name | |
Echinochloa colona (L.) Link |
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Synonyms | |
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Echinochloa colona is a type of wild grass originating from tropical Asia. It was formerly classified as a species of Panicum. It is the wild ancestor of the cultivated cereal crop Echinochloa frumentacea, sawa millet. Some taxonomists treat the two taxa as one species, in which case the domesticated forms may also be referred to as E. colona.
The grass occurs throughout tropical Asia and Africa in fields and along roadsides. It is naturalized in North America.
In India seeds of this grass are used to prepare a food dish called khichadi and are consumed during festival fasting days. In Gujarati is called "Samo" (સામો) or "Moriyo" (મોરિયો) in Marathi it is called 'bhagar' (भगर) or "Vari cha Tandul" (वरी चा तांदुळ), in Hindi it is called "Mordhan" (मोरधन)or "Sava ka chawal" (सवा का चावल).