Food Plants International

282
Names
English: Job’s tears Scientific name: Coix lachryma-jobi Linnaeus
Tok pisin: Synonyms:
Tok ples: Plant family: Poaceae
Description: A millet grass. It is a loosely tufted, tall,
annual grass. It grows up to 1-2 m high with long
slender leaves. The stems have a soft, white, centre
inside. The leaves can be 60 cm long and 3-5 cm wide.
The sheath of the leaf around the stem, is short. The
flower stalk is long and arching. Male and female
flowers are in separate spikes on the flowering stalk.
The female flowers have a hard covering which
changes from green to black to white, as it ripens.
Male flowers are small and on top. The seed is like a
bead and used for necklaces. They are 1.5 cm long.
The seeds are green when young, and turn to pearly
grey or purple when mature.
Distribution: A tropical and subtropical plant. It
grows wild and semi-cultivated in many areas of Papua
New Guinea. It is well suited to grow in swampy
places. It grows up to 2000 m altitude in the tropics. It
suits hardiness zones 9-11.
Cultivation: Plants are grown by seed. It grows wild in many swampy places. Seed are sown 5
cm deep. Plants are spaced at 40-60 cm.
Production: Seeds are ready to harvest about 5 months after sowing. On poor soils in dry
conditions, hollow fruits may be produced. The tough seed shell has to be broken.
Use: The seeds are eaten raw. They can be cooked like rice.
The seeds can be crushed to produce a cereal flour.
Food Value: Per 100 g edible portion
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg
Seed 12.5 588 15.0 0 0
Insects:
Diseases:
Leaf spot Fungus Cercospora sp.
Tar spot Fungi Phyllachora coicis P.Henn
And Phyllachora graminis Fuch.
Rust Fungus Puccinia operta Mundk. & Thirum.
Leaf galls and mosaic Viruses
Pests:
Importance: Common in most areas of Papua New Guinea but rarely eaten. It is eaten often in
some places e.g. Mendi Valley. Similarly in many tropical countries, the thin shelled form is
used as food.
Zinc
mg