Job's Tears (Coix lacryma‐jobi L. var. mayuen (Roman.) Stapf.

Japanese: ハトムギ(鳩麦) - ハトムギ（英語表記）Coix lacryma‐jobi L.var.mayuen (Roman.) Stapf.

An annual plant of the grass family. Its stems and leaves are coarse and sturdy, and its plant shape is very similar to that of Job's tears, so it is considered a variant. However, it differs in that the kernel shell is thin enough to break when pressed with a finger, and does not become hard and enamel-like like Job's tears. It was first cultivated in Southeast Asia, and was introduced to China from what is now Vietnam during the Later Han Dynasty. It was introduced to Japan from China, and records of its introduction date back to the 7th and 8th centuries, but cultivation began after the Kyoho era (1716-36). It was primarily cultivated as a medicinal plant. As it grows well in wetlands, it has recently been attracting attention as a rice paddy conversion crop, and for food and feed.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

イネ科の一年草。茎葉は粗剛で，ジュズダマに草姿がよく似ていて，変種とされる。しかし穀粒の殻が指で押せば割れる程度にうすく，ジュズダマのような硬いホウロウ質にならない点で異なる。東南アジアが栽培の発祥地で，中国へは後漢の時代に今のベトナム地方から伝えられた。日本へは中国から渡来し，7～8世紀に記録があるが，栽培が始まったのは享保年間(1716‐36)以降である。もっぱら薬用植物として栽培された。湿地でもよく生育するので最近は水田転作作物として，食用，飼料用の栽培も注目されている。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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