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.