Zizania aquatica
indian wild rice, annual wildrice, wild rice
Family
Poaceae
Leaf Arrangement
alternate
Leaf Margin
entire
Leaf Type
cauline, simple
Growth Form
graminoid
Flower Color
green, inconspicuous
Flower Month
May - October
Height (meters)
0.4 - 0.6
Milky Sap
No
Armed/Unarmed
Unarmed
Origin
native
Lifespan
annual
Wetland Class
OBL
Wetland Coefficient of Conservatism
6
Field Characters
Indian wild rice is a robust perennial grass with thick, spongy culms and a large drooping inflorescence. Similar to marsh-millet (Zizaniopsis miliacea) which has stiff, ascending upper branches in its inflorescence.
Habitat
Margins of streams, lakes, ponds, standing water and brackish and fresh water marshes.