Eleusine Coracana Finger Millet Flower Spikes Cultivated in Tropical Countries
The flower spikes of this tropical miniature grass are a very special shape - in fact, they are split. At the top of the stem, between one and eleven spikelets jut out in all directions. In most grasses, there are three or four of them. The grass grows to no more than 12 in in height, but continually produces new shoots from its creeping roots. Frost is guaranteed to put an end to that, and the plant will not, therefore, grow rampant. Sow directly in the garden in April-May, or in a field intended for cut flowers, because Eleusines are very suitable for that purpose. The flower spikes are also used in dried flower arrangements.
Eleusine coracana ‘Green Cat’ is named after the green flower spikes which, when ripe, curve towards one another like cat’s claws. By the time they are ripe - in August - they will have grown to almost 20 in in height. Apparently, the seed may be used as a cereal.
An easily grown plant, it succeeds in ordinary garden soil in a sunny position. Tolerates moderately moist conditions. Finger millet is reported to tolerate an annual precipitation of 29 to 429cm, an annual temperature range of 11.1 to 27.4°C and a pH in the range of 5.0 to 8.2. Typically a tropical crop, one of the best suited for dry farming, generally grown rainfed. It thrives under a medium rainfall, on porous soils that do not get waterlogged.
Finger millet is much cultivated in tropical countries for its edible seed. Over 20 varieties of ragi are cultivated in India. The numerous races under cultivation are primarily divided into purple and green types; those with straight or open spikes, encurved or closed spikes, or branched spikes; length of earheads (5-10 cm long); colour of seeds (deep brown to shade of orange-red to almost white or black); dwarf in habit (45 cm tall) to up to 1.3 m tall; poor tillering to profuse tillering; early or late maturing; suitable for growing under irrigation to growing in dry areas. Many named cultivars are involved in breeding trials in India. Most improvement is sought in increasing yields, resistance to lodging, even maturity and loose panicle.
