Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense, Syn. Pl. 1: 101 (1805))

Family: Poaceae

Author: (L.) Pers.

Bibliography: Syn. Pl. 1: 101 (1805)

Year: 1805

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Sorghum

Vegetable: False

Observations: Macaronesia to C. Asia and Indo-China

Description

Johnsongrass, scientifically known as Sorghum halepense, is a robust and resilient plant belonging to the Poaceae family. This perennial grass is recognized for its widespread adaptability and capacity to thrive in diverse environments. Originating from regions extending from Macaronesia through Central Asia and into Indo-China, Johnsongrass has become globally prominent due to its vigorous growth and hardy nature.

Often found in fields, along roadsides, and in disturbed soils, Johnsongrass has become well-known both for its benefits and challenges. It is highly valued in certain areas as a forage crop for livestock due to its rapid growth and high biomass production. The plant can reach impressive heights with its tall, lush stalks that bear broad leaves capable of photosynthesizing efficiently, even under less-than-ideal conditions.

However, Johnsongrass is also recognized as a notable weed, particularly in agricultural settings where it competes aggressively with crops. Its extensive root system enables it to outcompete many other plants for nutrients and water, often leading to significant impacts on crop yields. The plant’s ability to spread rapidly through both seed production and rhizome expansion makes it a formidable challenge to manage once established.

While it poses some agricultural hindrances, Johnsongrass’s resilience and adaptive strategies offer valuable insights into plant ecology and management. Research continues to explore effective methods to control its spread in undesired areas while also harnessing its potential benefits where applicable.

In scientific literature, Johnsongrass is noted in Bibliographie Syn. Pl. 1: 101 (1805), attributed to the author (L.) Pers. This historical acknowledgment underscores the long-standing recognition and study of Sorghum halepense, reflecting its established presence in botanical research and its persistent influence on both natural and agricultural landscapes.

Common Names

Lit: alepinis sorgas
Eng: aleppo grass, arabian-millet, cuba-grass, evergreen millet, johnson-grass, johnsongrass, means grass, sorghum-weed, great millet, johnson grass, johnson gras, johnson grass
Deu: aleppo-mohrenhirse, aleppohirse, wilde mohrenhirse
Ron: costrei; balur
Dan: durra, johnsongræs, vild durra
Fra: houlque d’alep, sorgho d’alep, herb-de-cuba, herbe d’alep, sorgho dalep, sorgho-d’alep
Afr: johnsongras
Nld: wilde sorgo
Spa: adaza, azuela, canyet, canyota, cañaba, cañota, hierba johnson, maicillo, millaca, panicillo, rabogato, sarrachón, sorgo, sorgo de aleppo, villoca
Por: arroz-bravo, capim-argentino, capim-aveia, capim-cevada, capim-de-cuba, capim-massambará, capim-mexicano, massambará, sorgo, sorgo-bravo, sorgo-de-alepo
Hun: fenyércirok
Lav: halebas sorgo
Swe: ogräsdurra
Ita: sorgagna
En: Johnsongrass, Evergreen millet, Means grass, Aleppo grass, Arabian-millet, Cuba-grass, Johnson-grass, Sorghum-weed, Great millet, johnson grass, Johnson Gras, Johnson grass, Herbe de Cuba, Sorgo de alepo, Zacate Johnson, Great millet
Af: Johnsongras
Ar: جراو (جِرّاو)
Ca: Canyota
Zh: Shi mao
Da: Durra, Johnsongræs, Vild durra
Nl: Wilde sorgo
Fr: Herbe d’Alep, Sorgho d’Alep, Houlque d’Alep, Herb-de-cuba, Sorgho dalep, Sorgho-d’alep, Herbe de Cuba, Herbe de Guinée
De: Wilde Mohrenhirse, Aleppohirse, Aleppo-Mohrenhirse
He: דורת ארם-צובא
Hu: Fenyércirok
It: Sorgagna, Melgastro, Melghetta, Sagginella, Sorghetto, Sorgo selvatico
Lv: Halebas sorgo
Lt: Alepinis sorgas
Pt: Arroz-bravo, Capim-argentino, Capim-aveia, Capim-cevada, Capim-de-cuba, Capim-massambará, Capim-mexicano, Massambará, Sorgo, Sorgo-bravo, Sorgo-de-alepo, Massambara
Ro: Costrei; Balur
Es: Cañota, Hierba Johnson, Sorgo de Aleppo, Adaza, Azuela, Canyet, Canyota, Cañaba, Maicillo, Millaca, Panicillo, Rabogato, Sarrachón, Sorgo, Villoca, Sorgo de Alepo, Zacate Johnson, Pasto Johnson
Sv: Ogräsdurra
Cy: Sorgwm Porthiant

Synonyms

• Andropogon dubius (K.Koch ex B.D.Jacks.)
• Andropogon halepensis var. genuinus (Stapf)
• Andropogon sorghum var. perennis (Bertoni)
• Andropogon avenaceus (Kunth)
• Sorghum halepense var. minus (Goiran)
• Milium halepense ((L.) Cav.)
• Andropogon miliformis (Schult.)
• Sorghum schreberi (Ten.)
• Sorghum halepense var. genuinum (Hack.)
• Sorghum halepense var. muticum ((Hack.) Grossh.)
• Sorghum saccharatum var. halepense ((L.) Kuntze)
• Andropogon sorghum subvar. genuinus (Hack.)
• Sorghum halepense var. lasiostachyum (Goiran)
• Sorghum decolorans ((Willd.) Roem. & Schult.)
• Andropogon crupina ((Link) Kunth)
• Andropogon halepensis subsp. anatherus (Piper)
• Andropogon decolorans ((Willd.) Kunth)
• Andropogon sorghum var. halepensis ((L.) Hack.)
• Sorghum halepense var. coloratum (Goiran)
• Andropogon sorghum subvar. leiocladus (Hack.)
• Sorghum halepense var. crupina ((Link) Steud.)
• Andropogon tumbackianus (Roxb. ex Kunth)
• Sorghum miliaceum ((Roxb.) Snowden)
• Sorghum miliaceum var. parvispiculum (Snowden)
• Blumenbachia halepensis ((L.) Koeler)
• Sorghum halepense var. schreberi ((Ten.) Nyman)
• Andropogon miliaceus (Roxb.)
• Sorghum halepense f. muticum ((Hack.) C.E.Hubb.)
• Sorghum halepense subvar. submuticum (Rendle)
• Sorghum halepense var. latifolium (Willk.)
• Andropogon halepensis ((L.) Brot.)
• Holcus decolorans (Willd.)
• Sorghum decolor (P.Beauv.)
• Andropogon sorghum subvar. muticus (Hack.)
• Rhaphis halepensis ((L.) Roberty)
• Sorghum halepense var. majus (Goiran)
• Andropogon halepensis var. effusus (Stapf)
• Sorghum halepense var. aristatum (Goiran)
• Andropogon halepensis var. muticus ((Hack.) Asch. & Graebn.)
• Andropogon sorghum subsp. halepense ((L.) Hack.)
• Holcus halepensis (L.)
• Andropogon sorghum subvar. trachycladus (Hack.)
• Andropogon sorghum subsp. halepensis ((L.) Hack.)
• Holcus exiguus (Forssk.)
• Sorghum dubium (K.Koch)
• Andropogon dubitatus (Steud.)
• Trachypogon avenaceus (Nees)
• Andropogon sorghum subsp. exiguus ((Forssk.) Piper)
• Sorghum crupina (Link)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Canary Is. (native)
• Cape Verde (native)
• Chad (native)
• Cyprus (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• Egypt (native)
• Gulf States (native)
• India (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Kuwait (native)
• Laos (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Libya (native)
• Madeira (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Myanmar (native)
• Nicobar Is. (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• Oman (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Saudi Arabia (native)
• Sri Lanka (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Thailand (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkmenistan (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
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Additional Images

Flower

Taken Oct 2, 2020 by barbara caroli (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 2, 2020 by barbara caroli (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 9, 2021 by flo badass (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 4, 2022 by Stéphane Mars (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 25, 2020 by Peter Demuro (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Leaf

Taken Sep 30, 2019 by federica (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 9, 2021 by flo badass (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 3, 2019 by Alexis Clogenson (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 3, 2019 by Alexis Clogenson (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 25, 2020 by Peter Demuro (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Sep 24, 2021 by Maarten Vidal (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 26, 2022 by errico lupi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 23, 2021 by Jim Becker (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 1, 2019 by Mihai Ionita (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 25, 2020 by Peter Demuro (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Oct 16, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Paul FABRE (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 16, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Paul FABRE (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 27, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Marie-France PETIBON (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 12, 2022 by Palmieri Nicola (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 9, 2021 by flo badass (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jun 30, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 27, 2022 by Manuëlle (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 4, 2022 by Vincent-bdr (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 17, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Bernard SUDAN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 17, 2019 by macchia1 (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Apr 4, 2020 by Stefano Mazzamauro (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 30, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Florent BECK (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 30, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Florent BECK (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 12, 2022 by Palmieri Nicola (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 30, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Florent BECK (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2705185)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:422139-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.)

Specifications

Growth form: Rhizomatous

Growth habit: Graminoid

Growth rate: Rapid

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.0

Ph minimum: 5.0

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 3

Bloom months: [‘jul’, ‘aug’, ‘sep’]

Soil nutriments: 7