Grass Description
Found in seasonally moist disturbed areas such as roadsides, stream banks, and cultivated fields.
General Description
Pearl millet is an upright bunch grass that forms new stems (tillers from the base); extensive root system; erect stems up to 9 feet tall. Stems are 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter.
Tall, up to 78 inches, annual with erect and branching stems; seedheads fully exerted from the sheath; first glume absent or shorter than second; lemmas with pubescent margins; grains (caryopses) protrude from the florets at maturity.
Flower Characteristics
Seedhead resembles a cattail, bristly and spike-like, 4 to 20 inches long, densely hairy axis, reduced branches, 1 to 9 spikelets; spikelets of 2 florets, lower floret sterile.
Vegetative Characteristics
Leaf blades are 8 to 40 inches long and 1/2 to 3 inches wide. Leaves may appear loosely twisted.
Pearl millet is regarded as a high quality feed for grazing, hay, or silage. It is high in protein and energy and low in fiber and lignin concentration.