Thank you, Dipak. This is my interpretation as well, based on having looked at a lot of packages of these two types of millets over the years (but without the depth of experience with proso of either you or Gary in your respective lines of work). That is, that the two on the left are proso, and that on the right is foxtail millet, despite Chinese labeling implying that the one in the middle is (waxy) foxtail. Here's a follow-up question: Are there any varieties of foxtail millet whose hulled grains might be comparable in size to those of proso? I'm focusing on middle package, the grains in which, as we agree look like those on the left, but whose labeling implies the same type (but different variety) as those on the right. I will write SLR Food Distribution, Inc. (which has the "Wise Wife" brand of the products in the image) to ask for any details on this particular product. In the meantime, for anyone on the "X" platform, here is a thread of seven Tweets I posted in 2018 on packaged millets that look like proso but carry the Chinese name associated more strictly with foxtail millet (i.e., xiaomi, 小米): https://x.com/donosborn/status/1036076138446155776?s=46&t=K_Qc7SYjS5aet2cD8g... (I no longer post on this platform, but still have an account). This all fits in a larger interest in labeling of millets in commercial products, and their nomenclature in popular usage. Don DO, EL, MI, US NAMA On Mon, May 4, 2026 at 5:42 PM Dipak Santra <dsantra2@unl.edu> wrote:
Left and center are two diff varieties of proso millet. The right one is foxtail millet.
Dipak
-----Original Message----- From: Don Osborn via Collab <collab@lists.millets2023.space> Sent: Sunday, May 3, 2026 9:04 AM To: Gary Wietgrefe <gww374@gmail.com> Cc: NAMA's Collab list <collab@lists.millets2023.space>; Don Osborn < don@milletsalliance.org> Subject: [Collab] Re: Quiz: Identifying millets in an image
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Thanks, Gary, for your reply. I realize that I should have put something in this image to give the scale. The image is not that close up. Also, these are of millets packaged in the US under a Chinese label.
I apologize fot the third one being a bit out of focus. I took several images of three packages in a store on an iPhone camera (they're tolerant of me taking pictures of items), and had to work with the angle to avoid casting a shadow from the overhead lights, and minimize the reflection off the wrinkles in the cellophane packaging. A consequence is that the third package (with the smaller grains) was on the edge of focus - and I didn't realize it at the time.
Attached is the full photo, at 33% since the original is 6 mb (a bit large to dump in folks' inboxes). I can send the original offlist to you or anyone who might want to examine more closely. Btw, the previous composite image was made with sections from the 100% original.
DO, EL, MI, US NAMA
On Sat, May 2, 2026 at 5:21 PM Gary Wietgrefe <gww374@gmail.com> wrote:
Good quiz. I only have been eating proso and the germ is lighter color and hulled seed more round and whitish yellow. No samples are pearl or finger. My guess is that the left and center are two varieties of foxtail and the right (blurry sample) is smaller seed and likely little millet. Thanks for the opportunity....Gary Wietgrefe
On Sat, May 2, 2026 at 12:17 PM Don Osborn via Collab < collab@lists.millets2023.space> wrote:
Attached is an image with details from a photo of three different packages of millets. Can you identify the millets in the left, center, and right of the image?
Hint #1: There are only two species of millet involved.
Hint #2: One of those species is present in two distinct varieties. (You are not asked to make that distinction.)
I'll follow with another hint later, and then share the original photo and details.
Motive for this: I'd like to get some unbiased takes on their identity.
TIA,
Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance
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