Finger Millet

Eleusine coracana

Native to:
Angola, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, DR Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sinai, Socotra, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan-South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Poaceae
Genus:
Eleusine
Species:
Eleusine coracana
USDA Symbol:
ELCO3

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Annual
Growth Habit:
Graminoid
Height:
120 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Food Forest:
Contains edible parts

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
well-drained, fertile, loamy soil
pH:
5.0 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
native to semi-arid regions; drought-tolerant

Propagation & Germination

Germination Time:
5–14 days
Notes:
Seeds germinate readily in warm soil without pretreatment.