Perennial wild rice (Oryza longistaminata)

Family: Poaceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Oryza longistaminata is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft) by 0.1 m (0ft 4in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist or wet soil and can grow in water.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Seed - cooked. It is said to have a good flavour. It can be used as a famine food. The seed has an appearance similar to Asian rice (Oryza sativa). — It is said to have a good flavour.; It can be used as a famine food.; The seed has an appearance similar to Asian rice (Oryza sativa).; Harvesting of the seed poses some difficulties, especially because the grain shatters extremely readily.

Habitat & North American Range

Swamps, shallow ponds, lake and river sides, field edges and flooded grassland, in both permanently wet and seasonally inundated areas. It can colonise inundated meadows to form a blanket cover. Found at elevations up to 1,800 metres. (Zone 10)