This variable species originates from Africa. FNA 25 stated: "Plants annual or short-lived perennials; often tillering, without rhizomes. Culms 50-500+ cm tall, 1-5 cm thick..." Typical ssp. bicolor is the common small grain crop of subtropical and temperate regions that is known as "sorghum" or "milo"; there are several cultivars. More weedy plants known as ssp. drummondii (Steud.) de Wet (= S. sudanense (Piper) Stapf.) may be derived from hybrids between ssp. bicolor and the original wild progenitor, ssp. arundinaceus (Desv.) de Wet. (FNA 25). Ssp. drummondii is common in corn crops, and probably includes most of the colls. mapped here. However, there is much interbreeding between these taxa and further study is needed. Some forms of ssp. drummondii are propagated for "wildlife", especially birds. Various confusing common names have been applied to this taxon, including chicken corn, Egyptian wheat, shattercane, shattercorn, shallu and Sudangrass. Leaves have a distinctly whitish mid-vein.