Definition

Noun: * A type of coarse annual grass: This term refers to a specific species of grass scientifically known as Echinochloa frumentacea. It is cultivated primarily in regions of Japan and southeastern Asia. The plant is valued for its edible seeds, which are used as a grain, and as a source of forage for livestock. In the United States, it also serves as an important food source for wildlife.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Farmers in the region cultivate billion-dollar grass for both human consumption and animal feed.
  • The fields of billion-dollar grass provide crucial forage for the cattle during the dry season.
  • In some areas, billion-dollar grass has naturalized and become a key food for migrating birds.

Advanced Usage

• As a common name: "Billion-dollar grass" is a common name that highlights the plant's economic value ("billion-dollar") due to its dual uses for food and forage. It is less common in formal botanical contexts than its scientific name, , or other common names like "Japanese millet" or "Indian barnyard millet."

Variants and Related Words

• Japanese millet: Another common name for the same plant (), emphasizing its cultivation in Japan.
• Indian barnyard millet: Another common name, linking it to the barnyard millet group and its cultivation in the Indian subcontinent.
• Forage grass: A general term for grasses grown primarily to feed livestock, which is one primary use of billion-dollar grass.
• : The genus name for a group of grasses that includes billion-dollar grass, as well as other species like barnyard grass ().

Synonyms

• Japanese millet
• Indian barnyard millet
• (scientific name)

Related Phrases

• Cultivated grass: A grass species intentionally grown for agricultural purposes, as billion-dollar grass is.
• Wildlife food plant: A plant that provides a significant source of nutrition for wild animals, which is a noted characteristic of this grass in the U.S.

Noun

1. coarse annual grass cultivated in Japan and southeastern Asia for its edible seeds and for forage; important wildlife food in United States