Growing Food: A Guide to Food Production

SECTION 3

288

Seed Purchase Procedures 310

Conversion Tables and Statistics 313

This list of cultivated plant names is far from exhaustive, but it is included here in an

identify the names of food crops. Confusion often arises with incorrect identification

language is involved.
Additional local names for the most common food crops are outlined in Section 2,
“Crop Descriptions—Description and Characteristics of the Main Food Crops”.
Comprehensive details on plant taxonomy are available online at the USDAs
website GRIN—the Germplasm Resources Information Network.
The following types of food plants are not included in the list below:
sugar crops, nut trees, oil palms, coffee, tea, beverages, stimulants, herbs, edible
seaweeds, mushrooms or fungi, or wild food plants.

A. CEREALS AND PSEUDOCEREALS
AdlayCoix lachryma-jobi. Job’s Tears
African Rice Oryza glaberrima. Arroz de Guinea (Spanish), Riz de Casamance
(French)
AmaranthsAmaranthusspp.—see2G
BarleyHordeum vulgare—see2A
Barnyard MilletEchinochloa crus-galli (Syn.Panicum crus-galli)
Bread Wheat Triticum aestivum (Syn.T. sativum, T. vulgare). Wheat—see 2A
BuckwheatFagopyrum esculentum (Syn.F. sagittatum)—see2A
CheenaPanicum miliaceum. Common Millet, Proso Millet, Panic Millet etc—2A
Chicken Corn Sorghum drummondii. Shatter Cane, Sudan Grass
Durra (Sorghum) Sorghum durra
Durum Wheat Triticum durum. Macaroni Wheat—see 2A
Einkorn (Wheat) Triticum monococcum—cultivated Einkorn, T. boeoticum—wild
Einkorn
Emmer (Wheat) Triticum dicoccum and T. dicoccoides—wild Emmer
English Wheat Triticum turgidum. Rivet, Cone
FeteritaSorghum caudatum
FonioDigitaria exilis (D. iburua—white-seeded form). Acha, Fundi, Hungry Rice
Guinea Corn Sorghum guineense

attempt to minimise some of the misunderstandings that can arise when trying to

and naming of plant species, especially with legumes, and also when more than one

288

Some Issues to Consider When Planning

’

A.

B.

C.

D.

Naming & Classification of Food Crops

3A. NAMING & CLASSIFICATION OF FOOD CROPS

or Assessing Agricultural Development

or Rehabilitation Programmes 317