高粱一年生栽(zai)培(pei)(pei)作物。稈高隨栽(zai)培(pei)(pei)條件(jian)及品種而異(yi),節上通(tong)常無(wu)(wu)白(bai)毛(mao)髯毛(mao)。葉(xie)鞘(qiao)無(wu)(wu)毛(mao)或(huo)(huo)被白(bai)粉;葉(xie)舌硬紙質,先端圓(yuan),邊緣有(you)(you)纖(xian)(xian)毛(mao);葉(xie)片狹長(chang)披(pi)針形(xing),長(chang)達50cm,寬約4cm。圓(yuan)錐花序有(you)(you)輪生、互生或(huo)(huo)對生的分枝(zhi);無(wu)(wu)柄小(xiao)穗卵狀橢圓(yuan)形(xing),長(chang)5-6mm,穎片成熟(shu)(shu)時(shi)下部硬革質,光滑無(wu)(wu)毛(mao),上部及邊緣具短柔毛(mao),兩性,有(you)(you)柄小(xiao)穗雄(xiong)性或(huo)(huo)中性;穗軸節間(jian)及小(xiao)穗柄為線形(xing),邊緣均(jun)具纖(xian)(xian)毛(mao), 但無(wu)(wu)縱溝;第(di)1穎背部突起或(huo)(huo)扁平,成熟(shu)(shu)時(shi)變(bian)硬而光亮,有(you)(you)窄(zhai)狹內卷的邊緣,向先端漸內折,第(di)2穎舟形(xing),有(you)(you)脊; 第(di)1外(wai)稃(fu)透明膜(mo)質,第(di)2外(wai)稃(fu)長(chang)圓(yuan)形(xing)或(huo)(huo)線形(xing),先端2裂(lie),從裂(lie)齒間(jian)伸出(chu)芒(mang)(mang),或(huo)(huo)全(quan)緣而無(wu)(wu)芒(mang)(mang)。穎果倒(dao)卵形(xing), 成熟(shu)(shu)后露(lu)出(chu)穎外(wai),花果期6-9月。
高粱(liang)喜(xi)溫(wen)(wen)、喜(xi)光,高粱(liang)原(yuan)產(chan)熱帶,是喜(xi)溫(wen)(wen)作物,在生(sheng)育(yu)期間(jian)所需(xu)的溫(wen)(wen)度比(bi)玉(yu)米(mi)高,并有一定的耐(nai)高溫(wen)(wen)特性,全生(sheng)育(yu)期適宜溫(wen)(wen)度20-30℃。
秋季采收(shou)成熟的果實,曬干除去皮殼(ke)用。味甘、澀(se),性溫。能(neng)益脾溫中(zhong),澀(se)腸(chang)止瀉。用于脾胃虛弱,消(xiao)化不良,便溏腹瀉。