''Echinochloa colona'', commonly known as jungle rice, deccan grass, or awnless barnyard grass, is a type of wild grass originating from tropical Asia. It was formerly classified as a species of ''

Panicum ''Panicum'' (panicgrass) is a large genus of about 450 species of grasses native throughout the tropical regions of the world, with a few species extending into the northern temperate zone. They are often large, annual or perennial grasses, growi ...

''. It is the wild ancestor of the cultivated cereal crop ''

Echinochloa frumentacea ''Echinochloa frumentacea'' (Indian barnyard millet, sawa millet, or billion dollar grass)''Echin ...

'', 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''.

Distribution and habitat

The grass occurs throughout tropical Asia and Africa in fields, and along roadsides and waterways. It is considered an invasive

weed A weed is a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation, "a plant in the wrong place", or a plant growing where it is not wanted.Harlan, J. R., & deWet, J. M. (1965). Some thoughts about weeds. ''Economic botany'', ''19''(1), 16-24. ...

in the Americas and Australia. In Australia, it has spread to wetlands, and is threatening the habitat of swamp tea trees.

In culinary use

In India seeds of this grass are used to prepare a food dish called

khichadi ''Khichdi'' or ''khichri'' (, , , , Odia: ଖେଚୁଡି) is a dish in South Asian cuisine made of rice and lentils ('' dal'') with numerous variations. Variations include ''bajra'' and mung ''dal'' ''khichri''. In Indian culture, in ...

and are consumed during festival fasting days. In Gujarati is called "Samo" (સામો) or "Moriyo" (મોરિયો) in Marathi it is called (भगर) or "Vari cha Tandul" (वरी चा तांदुळ), in Hindi it is called "Mordhan" (मोरधन) or "Sava ka chawal" (सवा का चावल). Also called samay ke chawal. The 1889 book 'The Useful Native Plants of Australia’ records that Panicum Colonum, (an earlier name for this plant) had common names which included "Shama Millet" of India; called also, in parts of India, "Wild Rice" or "Jungle Rice" and that it "Has erect stems from two to eight feet high, and very succulent. The panicles are used by the aboriginals ic.as an article of food. The seeds are pounded between stones, mixed with water, and formed into a kind of bread. It is not endemic to Australia."

References

External links

''Echinochloa colona''.
UC Davis IPM. {{DEFAULTSORT:Echinochloa Colona colona Millets Flora of Africa Flora of tropical Asia Grasses of Pakistan Grasses of Punjab Flora of Jammu and Kashmir Plants described in 1759 Flora of China