Definition

Noun: 1. A tall perennial grass: This term refers to a specific type of grass (Sorghum halepense) that lives for multiple years. It is characterized by its ability to spread aggressively through creeping underground stems called rhizomes. 2. A cultivated fodder and invasive pest: It is grown in some regions as fodder for livestock. However, it has become naturalized in areas like the southern United States, where it spreads uncontrollably and is considered a serious weed that damages cultivated farmland.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The field was overrun with evergreen millet, choking out the cotton plants.
  • Farmers struggle to control evergreen millet because its rhizomes make it very difficult to eradicate.
  • Despite its value as fodder, evergreen millet is often viewed as a noxious weed.

Advanced Usage

• As a common name: "Evergreen millet" is a common name for the species . In agricultural and botanical contexts, the scientific name is often used for precision.
  • Sorghum halepense, commonly known as evergreen millet or Johnson grass, is a major invasive species.

Variants and Related Words

• Johnson grass: This is the most frequently used common name for the same plant () in North America.
• Aleppo grass: Another regional common name for the same species.
• Sorghum halepense: The formal botanical (Latin) name for the species.

Synonyms

• Johnson grass (n): The primary synonym in American English.
• Perennial sorghum (n): A descriptive term highlighting its long-lived nature and plant family.

Related Phrases

• Noxious weed: A legal classification for harmful, invasive plants like evergreen millet.
  • The state has listed evergreen millet as a noxious weed.
• Creeping rhizome: A key biological feature of this plant that enables its spread.
  • The creeping rhizomes of evergreen millet allow it to form dense colonies.

Noun

1. tall perennial grass that spreads by creeping rhizomes and is grown for fodder; naturalized in southern United States where it is a serious pest on cultivated land