*** Welcome to piglix ***

Zizania (genus)

Wild rice
WildRice23.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
(unranked): Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Ehrhartoideae
Tribe: Oryzeae
Genus: Zizania
L.
Species
Wild rice, cooked
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 423 kJ (101 kcal)
21.34 g
Dietary fiber 1.8 g
0.34 g
3.99 g
Vitamins
Vitamin A equiv.
64 μg
Thiamine (B1)
(5%)
0.052 mg
Riboflavin (B2)
(7%)
0.087 mg
Niacin (B3)
(9%)
1.287 mg
Vitamin B6
(10%)
0.135 mg
Folate (B9)
(7%)
26 μg
Vitamin C
(0%)
0 mg
Vitamin E
(2%)
0.24 mg
Minerals
Calcium
(0%)
3 mg
Iron
(5%)
0.6 mg
Magnesium
(9%)
32 mg
Manganese
(13%)
0.282 mg
Phosphorus
(12%)
82 mg
Potassium
(2%)
101 mg
Sodium
(0%)
3 mg
Zinc
(14%)
1.34 mg
Other constituents
Copper 0.121 mg

Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults.
Source: USDA Nutrient Database

Wild rice (Ojibwe: Manoomin; also called Canada rice, Indian rice, and water oats) are four species of grasses forming the genus Zizania, and the grain that can be harvested from them. The grain was historically gathered and eaten in both North America and China. While now a delicacy in North America, the grain is eaten less in China, where the plant's stem is used as a vegetable.

Wild rice is not directly related to Asian rice (Oryza sativa), whose wild progenitors are O. rufipogon and O. nivara, although they are close cousins, sharing the tribe Oryzeae. Wild-rice grains have a chewy outer sheath with a tender inner grain that has a slightly vegetal taste.

The plants grow in shallow water in small lakes and slow-flowing streams; often, only the flowering head of wild rice rises above the water. The grain is eaten by dabbling ducks and other aquatic wildlife, as well as by humans.

Three species of wild rice are native to North America:

One species is native to Asia:

Texas wild rice is in danger of extinction due to loss of suitable habitat in its limited range and to pollution. The pollen of Texas wild rice can only travel about 30 inches away from a parent plant. If pollen does not land on a receptive female flower within that distance, no seeds are produced.Manchurian wild rice has almost disappeared from the wild in its native range, but has been accidentally introduced into the wild in New Zealand and is considered an invasive species there.

The species most commonly harvested as grain are annual species, Zizania palustris is now grown commercially, but Zizania aquatica was also used extensively in the past by Indians.Native Americans and others harvest wild rice by canoeing into a stand of plants, and bending the ripe grain heads with wooden sticks called knockers, so as to thresh the seeds into the canoe.


...
Wikipedia

...