Sorghum plants are tall, with straight stems, wide leaves, long spikes and cylindrical caryopsis. Millet plants are relatively short, with creeping or erect stems, narrow leaves, short spikes and oval caryopsis.

Sorghum seeds can be used as food, feed and raw materials for brewing, and its stems can be used for papermaking and fiber products. Millet seeds are mainly used for eating, and can be ground into powder to make rice, pasta and so on.