This species of cereal is similar in habit to the proso millet except that it is smaller.

It is an annual herbaceous plant, which grows straight or with folded blades to a height of 30 centimetres (12 in) to 1 metre (39 in).

The panicles are from 4 to 15 cm (1.6 to 5.9 in) in length with 2 to 3.5 mm (0.079 to 0.138 in) long awn.

There have been two subspecies described: In the temperate zones of Asia: the Caucasus, China, East Asia and also in the tropics of the continent: India, Indochina and Malaysia.

Pests include the shoot fly Atherigona pulla,[5] which also affects proso millet.

[8] At Harappa, little millet cultivation peaked at around 2600 BC, accounting for around 5% of the total cereal assemblage.