foxtail millet
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A type of cereal grass: A coarse, drought-resistant annual grass (Setaria italica) cultivated primarily for its small, edible seeds (grain), as well as for animal feed in the forms of hay and forage. 2. The grain itself: The small, round seeds harvested from this plant, used as food for humans and animals.
Usage Examples
- As the plant: is an important crop in arid regions due to its ability to grow with little water.
- As the grain: The farmers stored the harvested in silos for the winter.
- For forage: In the United States, is often grown as a fast-growing forage crop for livestock.
Advanced Usage
- Botanical context: In botanical and agricultural texts, is distinguished from other millets (like pearl millet or proso millet) by its characteristic bristly, fox-tail-like seed head, which is the origin of its common name.
- Historical/Archaeological context: is frequently mentioned in studies of ancient agriculture as one of the earliest domesticated grains in East Asia.
Variants and Related Words
- Italian millet: Another common name for the same species ().
- German millet: A regional name sometimes used.
- Hungarian millet: A regional name sometimes used.
- Setaria italica: The formal botanical (Latin) name for the species.
- Millet (general): The broader category of small-seeded grasses to which foxtail millet belongs.
Synonyms
- Italian millet
- Setaria italica (scientific name)
Related Phrases/Compounds
- Foxtail millet grain: Specifically refers to the harvested seeds for consumption.
- Foxtail millet hay: Refers to the dried grass used as animal fodder.
Noun
- coarse drought-resistant annual grass grown for grain, hay, and forage in Europe and Asia and chiefly for forage and hay in United States