Wild rice, Red rice
Oryza rufipogon

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

It is wild rice. It is a creeping grass. It has swollen roots. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 2.5 m high. The flowers are light brown. They are in panicles 13-25 cm long.

There are about 20 Oryza species. This is a diploid species with AA genome.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows on the edges of ponds or floating on water. It grows in wetlands. In southern China it grows below 700 m above sea level. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, SE Asia, South America, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Venezuela, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The seeds are eaten like rice. They are dried, have the skins removed and are then cooked. It is used as a reserve and famine food.

It is a wild plant. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Seeds, cereal

How it is grown

Because it shatters, poor people tie the awns together to collect the grain.

In Rajasthan in India, seed are produced in September to November.

Its other names

Local names

Anrol, Arroz-do-brejo, Balunga, Capim-arroz, Dev bhat, Devdhan, Jangli-Dhan, Jhara, Kalule, Karga, Karnga, Kaung-hnyin-saba, Nga-papgyi, Nirvari, Nivaru, Pasi, Sra gnae, Tharsod, Uri, Zhora dhan

Synonyms

Oryza fatua Koen. ex Trin.; Oryza glumaepatula Steud.; Oryza nivara S. D. Sharma & Shastry; Oryza sativa var. fatua Prain; Oryza sativa var. rufipogon Watt; Oryza sativa var. coarctata Watt; Oryza sativa var. abuensis Watt; and others