Wild rice

Manchurian wild rice - Photo by Forest and Kim Starr

Four species in the genus Zizania are known as wild rice, but they should not be confused with Asian rice (Oryza sativa), which is a plant in a different genus.

Three species originate from North America: Northern wild rice (Zizania palustris), Wild rice (Zizania aquatica), and Texas wild rice (Zizania texana). One species is native to Asia: Manchurian wild rice (Zizania latifolia).

Of all species the grains can be used as a cereal, but the Manchurian wild rice is nowadays mainly cultivated in China to use the thickened stems as a vegetable.

Names

Scientific
   Zizania spp.
English
   Canada rice
   Indian rice
   Manchurian wild rice
   Northern wild rice
   Texas wild rice
   Water oats
   Wild rice
Dutch
   Wilde rijst
Spanish
   Arroz indígena
   Arroz salvaje
   Arroz silvestre
French
   Riz sauvage
   Zizanie
German
   Indianerreis
   Kanadischer Reis
   Wasserreis
   Wildreis
Italian
   Riso selvatico