Particulars

Arboretum name: Awa: Foxtail Millet
Japanese name: Awa
Species / Family: Setaria italica (L.) Beauv./Gramineae
Okinawan name: Awa

Plant Characteristics

Awa, or Setaria italica (Foxtail millet) is an annual grass that is cultivated mainly in crop fields. The stems grow upright from the roots, which can reach a height of 1–1.5 meters. There is a theory suggesting that Awa-based raw sake was originally made from Enokogusa, or Setaria viridis P. Beauv. Koawa, a species of Awa, bears small spikelets, making it difficult to distinguish from Enokogusa, or Setaria viridis P. Beauv. Resistant to drought and suitable for any type of soil, Awa can be planted in a wide range of climates, from cold to warm. Due to its short growing season of around 100 days, Awa has long been cultivated as an important food crop. Thought to originally be from northwestern India to central Asia, Awa spread to other parts of the world. In Japan, Awa is one of the earliest cultivated species, and there is data suggesting it was introduced via Korea.

Uses

Grains: Food Crops, Brewed Sake, Bird Feed, Treatment for Rashes

Calendar of best viewing periods

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