''Setaria'' is a widespread genus of plants in the grass family. The name is derived from the

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

word ''seta'', meaning "bristle" or "hair", which refers to the bristly spikelets. The genus includes over 100 species distributed in many tropical and temperate regions around the world,Aliscioni, S., et al
An overview of the genus ''Setaria'' (Poaceae: Panicoideae: Paniceae) in the Old World: Systematic revision and phylogenetic approach.
Abstract. Botany 2004. Salt Lake City. August 3, 2004. and members are commonly known as foxtail or bristle grasses.

Description

The grass is topped by a cylindrical long-haired head, which tend to droop when ripe. The seeds are less than in length.

Species

; Currently acceptedThe Plant List search for Setaria
/ref> ; Formerly included Numerous species were once considered members of ''Setaria'' but have since been reassigned to the following genera: ''

Brachiaria ''Brachiaria'', or signalgrass, is a genus of plants in the grass family native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, Australia, southern Europe, the Americas, and various islands.Dissochondrus'', ''

Echinochloa ''Echinochloa'' is a very widespread genus of plants in the grass family and tribe Paniceae. Some of the species are known by the common names barnyard grass or cockspur grass. Some of the species within this genus are millets that are grown ...

'', ''

Holcolemma ''Holcolemma'' is a genus of African, Asian, and Australian plants in the grass family. ; Species * '' Holcolemma canaliculatum'' (Steud.) Stapf & C.E.Hubb. - Tanzania, India (Tamil Nadu), Sri Lanka * '' Holcolemma dispar'' Clayton - Queensla ...

'', '' Ixophorus'', ''

Oplismenus ''Oplismenus'' is a small genus of annual or perennial grasses, commonly known as basketgrass, found throughout the tropics, subtropics, and in some cases, temperate regions of the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The systematics of the ...

'', ''

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 ...

'', ''

Paspalidium ''Paspalidium'' (watercrown grass) is a genus of tropical and subtropical plants in the grass family. ''Paspalidium'' includes about 40 species native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas Th ...

'', '' Pennisetum'', '' Pseudoraphis'', '' Setariopsis'', and ''

Urochloa ''Urochloa'' is a genus of plants in the grass family, native to Eurasia, Africa, Australia, Mexico, and the Pacific Islands.

Uses

The grains can be eaten raw, though are hard and can be bitter; boiling can reduce both of these properties. Several species have been domesticated and used as staple crops throughout history:

foxtail millet Foxtail millet, scientific name ''Setaria italica'' (synonym ''Panicum italicum'' L.), is an annual grass grown for human food. It is the second-most widely planted species of millet, and the most grown millet species in Asia. The oldest evide ...

(''S. italica''), korali ('' S. pumila'') in India, and, before the full domestication of

maize Maize ( ; ''Zea mays'' subsp. ''mays'', from es, maíz after tnq, mahiz), also known as corn (North American and Australian English), is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago. The ...

, '' Setaria macrostachya'' in Mexico. Several species are still cultivated today as food or as animal fodder, such as foxtail millet and korali ('' S. pumila''), while others are considered

invasive weeds An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species adv ...

. '' S. viridis'' is currently being developed as a genetic model system for bioenergy grasses. Other species that have been cultivated as crops include '' S. palmifolia'' (highland pitpit) of

Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...

, where it is cultivated as a green vegetable; '' S. parviflora'' (knot-root foxtail), historically cultivated in

Mesoamerica Mesoamerica is a historical region and cultural area in southern North America and most of Central America. It extends from approximately central Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and northern Costa Rica ...

; and '' S. sphacelata'' (African bristle grass) of Sudan, a "lost millet" of

Nubia Nubia () (Nobiin: Nobīn, ) is a region along the Nile river encompassing the area between the first cataract of the Nile (just south of Aswan in southern Egypt) and the confluence of the Blue and White Niles (in Khartoum in central Sudan), or ...

References

External links

''Setaria''.
California Department of Food and Agriculture. {{Taxonbar, from=Q157389 Poaceae genera Grasses of Africa Grasses of Asia Grasses of Europe Grasses of North America Grasses of Oceania Grasses of South America Panicoideae Taxa named by Palisot de Beauvois Taxonomy articles created by Polbot

Description

Species

Uses

See also

References

External links