Rice (Oryza sativa)

Poaceae family

Rice is the world's second most important cereal, in terms of human consumption. It is a member of the tribe ORYZEAE and is a self-pollinating diploid (2n=24). There are three main races of domesticated rice: Indica, or South Asian rice (Basmati type, center above); Japonica, or East Asian rice (short-grain, right above); and Javanica, or Southeast Asian rice. Indica and Javanica varieties are generally adapted to the tropics, while Japonica rices are adapted to more temperate growing regions.

There are also upland and paddy rice varieties. In addition, there is a native West African cultivated species, O. glaberrima. Important rice-producing states include Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi, and California. Rice is only a distant relative of what we call in the US wild rice (Zizania aquatica), which is native to North America.