Botanical Name : Setaria italica
Family: Poaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Poales
Genus: Setaria
Species: S. italica
Synonyms:
Alopecurus caudatus Thunb.
Chaetochloa germanica (Mill.) Smyth
Chaetochloa italica (L.) Scribn.
Chamaeraphis italica (L.) Kuntze
Common Names: Foxtail millet, Dwarf setaria, Chinese Millet, Foxtail bristle-grass, Giant setaria, Green foxtail, Italian millet, German millet, and Hungarian millet.
Habitat: Setaria italica was first naturalized in China. The evidence shows the domestication of Foxtail millet in the Middle East and Europe which dates about 4000 years BP. The phylogenetic analyses show the green millet and foxtail millet is associated and the Foxtail millet is naturalized derivative of the green millet. Currently, Foxtail millet is sophisticated in Europe, America, Asia, Africa and Australia.
Description:
Setaria italica is an annual grass with erect and robust culms, grown for human food. It grows upto the height of 60-150 cm. Leaves are 20-40 cm long and 1.5-3 centimeters wide with lanceolate shape. Leaf sheaths are small, glabrous or pubescent and 1-3 mm. Leaf lamina is dense, erect or pendent, lobed and 6-40 × 0.5-5 cm. It has elliptic, ovate or subglobose spikelets of 2-3 mm.
The seedhead is a dense, hairy panicle 5–30 cm (2.0–11.8 in) long.
The small seeds, around 2 millimetres (3?32 in) in diameter, are encased in a thin, papery hull which is easily removed in threshing. Seed color varies greatly between varieties.
Edible Uses:
Foxtail millets are rich in calories that provide energy and strength to the body to perform activities. It is widely cultivated in India, Africa and China. It is considered as the perfect substitute for the healthy diets.
Medicinal Uses:
Setaria italica has different health bebefits. It has very good neutricinal value. It is an Antioxidant
This helps Proper function of cardiac, reducing Alzheimer’s disease, Cures muscle weakness, It helps proper maintenance of skin & hair .
Freshly prepared root decoction (ca. 10 ml) mixed with a pinch of table salt (ca. 2 gm) is given at
early morning in empty stomach to cure dyspepsia by the Lodhas. Tender stem is given as fodder to increase lactation of the cattle by
the Santals. Fresh root paste (ca. 5 gm) mixed with the root paste of ‘Gandhar’ (Paederia scandens) and ‘Sital’ (Sida cordata) (ca. 3
gm and 2 gm each respectively) is given twice a day to cure blood dysentery by the Oraons.
Other Uses: Dry hays are used for cattle food.
Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxtail_millet
https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/foxtail-millet/
http://www.crdeepjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Vol-3-3-1-IJBAS.pdf
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