Wild rice. Uri. Tropical wild rice
Porteresia coarctata

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A form of wild rice that grows in saline estuaries in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Myanmar and is harvested and eaten locally. The plant is A salt-tolerant wild rice that grows in saline estuaries. It is as pioneer species in the succession process of mangrove formation along the estuaries of India. May also be known as as Oryza coarctata Roxb.

Porteresia coarctata is a PERENNIAL growing to 2 m (6ft) by 0.1 m (0ft 4in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist or wet soil and can grow in water.

Height (m): 2

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in mangrove forests and in saline estuaries. It grows in coastal places.

Origin: S. Asia. Native to India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Native to India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 3

Edible Portion: Seeds. Perennial grains have been a dream of the sustaiable agriculture movement for some time promising to marry the carbon and agroecological benefits of perennials to the annual staples we know and love. The task of perennializing grains is a slow and laborious process but some progress is being made. Wild rice species have proven to be tremendous gene reservoirs to increase domesticated rice yield, quality, and resistance to diseases and insects. Wild rice species have furnished genes for the hybrid rice revolution, exhibit yield-enhancing traits and have shown tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress. Among the wild relatives of rice, P. coarctata shows considerable adaptation to salinity. Porteresia coarctata is currently wild-harvested and grown for erosion control and coastal protection. Carbon Farming Solutions - Staple Crop: balanced carb (The term staple crop typically refers to a food that is eaten routinely and accounts for a dominant part of people's diets in a particular region of the world).

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 3

Grown for erosion control and coastal protection. The plant is salt-tolerant, and is seen as a possibly important source of salt-tolerance genes for transfer to other rice species. P. coarctata act as pioneer species in the succession process of mangrove formation along the estuaries of India

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Staple Crop: Balanced carb: (0-15 percent protein, 0-15 percent oil, with at least one over 5 percent). The carbohydrates are from either starch or sugar. Annuals include maize, wheat, rice, and potato. Perennials include chestnuts, carob, perennial fruits, nuts, cereals, pseudocereals, woody pods, and acorns.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Staple Crop: Balanced carb: (0-15 percent protein, 0-15 percent oil, with at least one over 5 percent). The carbohydrates are from either starch or sugar. Annuals include maize, wheat, rice, and potato. Perennials include chestnuts, carob, perennial fruits, nuts, cereals, pseudocereals, woody pods, and acorns.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

How it is grown

Climate: tropical. Humidity: humid. It is closely related to Oryza australiensis. P. coarctata grows in abundance along the eastern and western coasts of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh shows considerable adaptation to salinity. Porteresia, a tetraploid (2n = 4x = 48) distant wild rice relative, is a monotypic genus occurring as an associate of mangroves along the coastal belts. Carbon Farming Solutions - Cultivation: regional crop. Management: standard (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation).

Propagating it: Seed

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist, wet, water

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Wild rice. Uri. Tropical wild rice, Perennial Rice

Synonyms

Indoryza coarctata (Roxb.) A.N.Henry & B.Roy. Oryza coarctata Roxb. Oryza triticoides Griff. Sclerophyllum coarctatum (Roxb.). Griff.