Panicles are compact and oval in shape. Seeds are very large for sorghum, chalky white in color. Durra sorghums are from the Mediterranean Area, the Near East, and Middle East. Stems are dry. Panicles are bearded and hairy and may be compact or open.
Seeds are large and flattened.
Sballu sorghums from India have tall, slender, dry stems. Heads are loose. Seeds are pearly white in color and late maturing, thus requiring a relatively long growing season. Koaliang sorghums, typical of those mainly grown in China, Manchuria and Japan, have slender, dry, woody stems with sparse leaves. Panicles are wiry and semicompact.