Changes

The composition of whole black fonio grain per 100 g edible portion is: water 10.3 g, energy 1436 kJ (343 kcal), protein 8.9 g, fat 3.0 g, carbohydrate 75.6 g, fibre 6.2 g, P 234 mg and Fe 10.0 mg (Leung, Busson & Jardin, 1968). The essential amino-acid content per 100 g grain is: tryptophan 215 mg, lysine 225 mg, methionine 355 mg, phenylalanine 803 mg, threonine 389 mg, valine 614 mg, leucine 1395 mg and isoleucine 508 mg (FAO, 1970).

Loosely tufted, erect, annual grass up to 1.4 m tall, with glabrous stems. Leaves alternate, simple; leaf sheath glabrous, smooth, striate; ligule membranous, rounded, broad, 2–3 mm long; blade linear, tapering upwards, up to 30 cm × 1 cm, glabrous except for some long hairs near the base. Inflorescence a terminal digitate panicle of (2–)4–10(–11) sessile raceme-like primary branches 12–14 cm long. Spikelet up to 2.5 mm stalked, elliptical-lanceolate to oblong, up to 2 mm × 1 mm, acute, glabrous, green to dark brown, 2-flowered; lower glume hyaline, minute; upper glume ovate-oblong, 1–1.5 mm long, hyaline, 3-veined; lower floret sterile, upper floret bisexual; lemma of lower floret 7-veined, lemma of upper floret brownish to black; palea slightly shorter than lemma; stamens 3; ovary superior, with 2 stigmas. Fruit a caryopsis (grain), ellipsoid, 1.5–2 mm × 1 mm.