The World of Sorghum—Part I

Sorghum—where does this word come from, and what does it mean? Sorghum comes from the Italian word “Sorgo,” which, in turn, comes from the Latin word “Syricum granum” meaning “grain of Syria.” Don’t let the name mislead you though. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is an ancient crop of African origin and is widely cultivated in semi-arid regions of Africa, Asia and the Americas. In fact, a U.S. Government publication describes sorghum as Africa’s contribution to the small number of elite grains, which include rice, wheat and maize.