Taxonomy and classification :
Family : Poaceae – Grass family
Sub family : Chloridoideae
Genus : Eleusine
Species :
Classification based on chromosome number :
|
S.N. |
Diploid species |
Tetraploid species |
|
1 |
Eleusine indica |
Eleusine coracana |
|
2 |
Eleusine oligostachya |
Eleusine africana |
|
3 |
Eleusine tristachya |
E longipoides |
|
4 |
Eleusine poranansis |
E verticillata |
|
5 |
Eleusine jaegeri |
E cagopoides |
|
6 |
Eleusine flacifolia |
|
Table : Classification of finger millet based on chromosome number.
Among the different species of finger millet , two species of finger millet are commonly cultivated in water.
It is believed that cultivated species of Asian millet E. coracana has been selected and domesticated deom E. indica and E. africana at different historical timeline.
|
Common name |
Indian ragi |
African ragi |
|
Botanical name |
E. coracana |
E. Africana |
|
Length of spike and finger |
Shorter |
Longer |
|
Size of grain |
Small |
Bold or large |
|
Response to photo-periodism |
Photo insensitive |
Photo sensitive |
|
Maturity |
Synchromous |
Asynchronous |
In Nepal two types of millets are found :
|
S.N. |
Types |
Nepali name |
Structure of ear head |
|
1. |
Palm type |
Punje kodo |
4 to 6 fingers stretched apart from each other like fingers of palm |
|
2. |
Fist type |
Mudke kodo |
Fingers are adhered together forming structure like a fist |