As we close out December, in which adlay is our millet of the month, I wanted to zoom out a bit to consider that three of the millets - adlay, sorghum, and Taiwan oil millet - and only these three, are in a botanical tribe called Andropogoneae. One can identify various groups among the millets, based on various criteria, but this particular botanical one - the Andropogoneae tribe - seems interesting for several reasons: * Corn (maize) and sugar cane are also in this botanical tribe * Sorghum is the subject of a discussion among some as to whether it is a millet or not. (We promote it among the millets - nobody really loses in that.) It is in, any event, by far the most cultivated of these grains * Adlay (Job's tears) has the largest grain among the millets - sorghum is second (and pearl millet, of the larger Paniceae tribe, is third) * Taiwan oil millet *(Spodiopogon formosanus)* is the only one of the millets cultivated as a perennial (altho on a very small scale) Is it useful to have a name for this unique small group of three? "Andropogoneae millets" would be accurate. Shortening the first name by three letters and a syllable to "Andopogon millets" is tempting. However "Andropogon" is also the genus name for some species of clumping perennial grasses, some of which are quite tall. (Interestingly, both sorghum and Taiwan oil millet were apparently once included in this genus). In any event, I will leave this idea there. Don Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance