Sorghum halepense: taxon details and analytics

Domain
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Poales
Family
Poaceae
Genus
Sorghum
Species
Sorghum halepense
Scientific Name
Sorghum halepense

Summary description from Wikipedia:

Johnson grass

Johnson grass or Johnsongrass, Sorghum halepense, is a plant in the grass family, Poaceae, native to Asia and northern Africa. The plant has been introduced to all continents except Antarctica, and most larger islands and archipelagos. It reproduces by rhizomes and seeds.

Johnson grass has been used for forage and to stop erosion, but it is often considered a weed because:

  • Foliage that becomes wilted from frost or hot, dry weather can contain sufficient amounts of hydrogen cyanide to kill cattle and horses if it is eaten in quantity.
  • The foliage can cause 'bloat' in such herbivores from the accumulation of excessive nitrates; otherwise, it is edible.
  • It grows and spreads rapidly, it can 'choke out' other cash crops planted by farmers.

This species occurs in crop fields, pastures, abandoned fields, rights-of-way, forest edges, and along streambanks. It thrives in open, disturbed, rich, bottom ground, particularly in cultivated fields. Johnson grass that is resistant to the common herbicide glyphosate has been found in Argentina and the United States. It is considered to be one of the ten worst weeds in the world. In the United States, Johnson grass is listed as either a noxious or quarantined weed in 19 states. With Sorghum bicolor it is a parent of Sorghum × almum, a forage crop also considered a weed in places.

It is named after an Alabama plantation owner, Colonel William Johnson, who sowed its seeds on river-bottom farm land circa 1840. The plant was already established in several US states a decade earlier, having been introduced as a prospective forage or accidentally as a seedlot contaminant.

In early 20th century Talladega County (Alabama), feelings about Johnson grass were mixed. It was considered a nutritious, palatable and productive forage, but many farmers still found it undesirable. Fields of this grass fell into a "sod bound" state of insufficient new growth unless they were plowed every two or three seasons.

A genetic study employing microsatellite markers has investigated Johnsongrass populations across 12 US states and confirmed that the weed was introduced to US from Alabama and North Carolina. Moreover, the study also detected an unreported independent introduction from Arizona. After trans-continental railroad building the two founding populations began to intermix at around Texas shifting diversity from centers of introduction.

The 1889 book The Useful Native Plants of Australia records that Sorghum halepense is a "strong, erect-growing species, varying from two to ten feet high, succulent when young, a splendid grass for a cattle run, though not much sought after by sheep. It is a free seeder. The settlers on the banks of the Hawkesbury (New South Wales) look upon it as a recent importation, and seed of it has been distributed under the name of Panicum speciabile. (WooUs) Coast of Queensland, New South Wales, and Western Australia."

...
 

Sorghum halepense in languages:

Afrikaans
Johnsongras
Afrikaans
Columbus-gras
Afrikaans
Johnson-gras
Bokmål
villdurra
Bulgarian
Балур
Catalan
Canyota
Chinese
詹森草
Czech
čirok halabský
Danish
Vild durra
Dutch
Wilde sorgo
English
Johnson grass
English
Johnsongrass
English
sudan grass
English
Aleppo Grass
English
Columbus Grass
English
Egyptian Millet
English
Evergreen Millet
English
Grass Sorghum
Finnish
jonsonindurra
French
Sorgho d'Alep
French
Herbe de Cuba
German
Aleppohirse
German
Wilde Mohrenhirse
Hebrew
דורת ארם צובא
Hungarian
Fenyércirok
Italian
Sorgo selvatico
Japanese
セイバンモロコシ
Korean
시리아수수새
Polish
Sorgo alepskie
Portuguese
Sorgo-bravo
Portuguese
Capim-de-boi
Portuguese
Sorgo-de-Alepo
Portuguese
Capim-alpiste
Russian
Сорго алеппское
Serbian
Дивљи сирак
Slovene
divji sirek
Swedish
ogräsdurra

Images from inaturalist.org observations:

We recommend you sign up for this excellent, free service.

Sorghum halepense
©sealvy66, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©sealvy66, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©laurence04500, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Seth G. Breeding, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Seth G. Breeding, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Seth G. Breeding, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Seth G. Breeding, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©abcdefgewing, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Jakob Wilson, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©kpkarlsen, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©caeleygrady, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©caeleygrady, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©caeleygrady, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©caeleygrady, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©margaretjp, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Fernando Mondaca Fernandez, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©pyrowyrm, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Παναγιώτης Ραφαηλίδης, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Hugo, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©kdenice, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©kdenice, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©kdenice, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©kdenice, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Alejandra Lallo, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Alejandra Lallo, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Alejandra Lallo, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Paul Herment, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Paul Herment, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Paul Herment, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Marco, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Marco, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©gjs7r3, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©gjs7r3, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©gjs7r3, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©embyrs, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©embyrs, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Hitoshi WATANABE 渡辺仁, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©amyj9, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©amyj9, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©amyj9, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©amyj9, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Roberto Corvino, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Michael Chassé, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-ND)
Sorghum halepense
©Michael Chassé, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-ND)
Sorghum halepense
©elenakuraeva, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©elenakuraeva, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©jessicashine, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©jessicashine, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©cynodon, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©cynodon, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©cynodon, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©cynodon, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©lucapassalacqua, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Alvin Diamond, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©wendigoxhuldra, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©wendigoxhuldra, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©wendigoxhuldra, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©abcdefgewing, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©abcdefgewing, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Peter Brastow, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Sorghum halepense
©jobflores, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©magule, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©a_hamernik, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Guillermo Rodriguez, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Guillermo Rodriguez, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Guillermo Rodriguez, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Sorghum halepense
©Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Sorghum halepense
©Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Sorghum halepense
©Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Sorghum halepense
©Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Sorghum halepense
©Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Sorghum halepense
©Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Sorghum halepense
©rockybajada, some rights reserved (CC0)
Sorghum halepense
©rockybajada, some rights reserved (CC0)
Sorghum halepense
©rockybajada, some rights reserved (CC0)
Sorghum halepense
©amalie7782, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©q5xtljs3uy2, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©thoughthealer, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©stephen, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Sorghum halepense
©ronaldranjit2002, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Nodora L. Moyano, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Nodora L. Moyano, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Nodora L. Moyano, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Nodora L. Moyano, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Hugo, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©walt_reutzel, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Guillermo Rodriguez, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Guillermo Rodriguez, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Guillermo Rodriguez, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©allexisz, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Peter M Martin, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Peter M Martin, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Peter M Martin, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Peter M Martin, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Sean Werle, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Sean Werle, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Sean Werle, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Sean Werle, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Kerry Steedley, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Kerry Steedley, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©blbbg, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Ed Ramthun, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Ed Ramthun, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Ed Ramthun, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Ed Ramthun, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©loutingle, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©conyersfam, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©conyersfam, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©conyersfam, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©conyersfam, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Anna Evans, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Margaret, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Margaret, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Margaret, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Margaret, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Margaret, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Margaret, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Margaret, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Margaret, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Salvador Cabrera, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Salvador Cabrera, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Peter Brastow, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Sorghum halepense
©TWR, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©TWR, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©TWR, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©TWR, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Hanno Schaefer, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©a_hamernik, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Hanno Schaefer, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Hanno Schaefer, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Wyatt Stutzman, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©TWR, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©TWR, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©TWR, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©TWR, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Dave Woehr, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©zach_wood, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©zach_wood, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©zach_wood, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Naturalist Negin, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-ND)
Sorghum halepense
©Naturalist Negin, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-ND)
Sorghum halepense
©CK Kelly, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Sorghum halepense
©CK Kelly, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Sorghum halepense
©Ivy Flory, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©fieldwork427, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©gyates, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©DW, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Alvin Diamond, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Fernando Mondaca Fernandez, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Hanno Schaefer, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Hanno Schaefer, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Maya Allen, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Maya Allen, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©Kujali Maclin, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©evamoeltner, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©gracebart, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©gracebart, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©zengel68, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Sorghum halepense
©zengel68, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)