Wadi rice
Oryza punctata
Family: Poaceae
What it is like
A grass. It grows in water. The stems are 60-90 cm high and stout. They are spongy.
There are about 20 Oryza species. This can a diploid or tetraploid species with BB or BBCC genomes. Chemical composition: Protein (crude) = 13.9% (dry). Oil = 4.0% (dry). Ash (insoluble) = 4.4% (dry). Fibre (crude) = 2.9% (dry). Carbohydrate (soluble) (starch) = 70.0% (dry). Sucrose) = 1.0% (dry). D-glucose = 0.2% (dry). D-fructose = 0% (dry). Amino acids (g[16gN ]-1): Aspartic acid = 9.7g. Threonine = 3.4g. Serine = 4.0g. Glutamic acid = 19.3g. Proline = 3.8g. Glycine = 4.5g. Alanine = 5.5g. Valine = 5.9g. Cysteine = 1.5g. Methionine = 2.2g. Isoleucine = 4.1g. Leucine = 8.6g. Tyrosine = 4.8g. Phenylalanine = 5.2g. Histidine = 2.3g. Lysine = 3.6g. Arginine = 8.4g. Fatty acids (saturated) (g/100g)-1: 14:0 = 0.6g. 16:0 = 20.6g. 18:0 = 2.2g. 22:0 = 0.4g. 24:0 = 0.5g; (monounsaturated): 16:1 = 0.1g. 20:1 = 0.6g; (polyunsaturated): 18:2 = 30.6g. 18:3 = 1.9g. Minerals: Sulphur = 0.14% (dry). Potassium = 0.55% (dry). Magnesium = 0.27% (dry). Calcium = 0.04% (dry). Na = 0.01%. K = 0.37%. Zinc = 39mg/kg-1 (dry). Iron = 168mg/kg-1 (dry). Manganese = 49mg/kg-1 (dry). Copper = 7mg/kg -1(dry). Aluminum = 562mg/kg-1 (dry).
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It is rare in Swaziland. It grows in swampy streams in West Africa.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Angola, Benin, Central Africa, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Eswatini, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The seeds have the hulls removed and are then boiled and eaten.
It is a famine food.
Edible parts
Seeds, grains, cereal
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Ruz al wadi