Oryza punctata
Kotzchy ex Steud.
Wadi rice
(c) Bart Wursten, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Bart Wursten
Wikimedia Commons - Manuel CABALLER
What to Eat
Edible parts: Seeds, Grains, Cereal
The seeds have the hulls removed and are then boiled and eaten, providing 13.9% crude protein, 70% starch, and 4% oil.
Where to Find It
A tropical plant. It is rare in Swaziland. It grows in swampy streams in West Africa.
Africa, Angola, Benin, Central Africa, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Eswatini, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zimbabwe,
How to Identify
A grass. It grows in water. The stems are 60-90 cm high and stout. They are spongy.
Nutrition Score: 17/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seeds | 1482 | 362 | 13.9 | — | — | 17 | 3.9 | — |
How to Grow
The diploid form of this plant grows best in open to semi-shaded areas, whilst the triploid is found in semi-shaded to shaded areas. Both forms prefer a black clay or sandy soil. The plant is a noxious weed in rice cultivation and a potential seed contaminant of rice cultivars. Plants can be in flower at any time of the year.
Propagation: Seed. The seed of wild rice less than 12 months old often exhibits strong dormancy, which implies (though this has not been established) that the seed retains its viability for a considerable period. Heat treatment is generally effective in breaking dormancy - alternating temperatures between 34°c for 16 hours then 11°c for 8 hours is usually effective, though the time taken varies between species. Surface sow the seed in light shade and do not allow to dry out. Seed should germinate within 7 days at 30°c. Prick out 2 - 3 seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle and, after a few days, move the diploid form to a sunny position. Grow on until large enough to plant out.
Other Uses
Because they are a source of resistance to or tolerance of biotic and abiotic stresses, the most important use of the various species of wild rice is probably in breeding programmes to improve the species of cultivated rice. Oryza punctata is considered a source of resistance to various diseases and pests affecting Oryza sativa, including bacterial leaf blight (Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae) and brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens).
Wikipedia
Source ↗Oryza punctata is an annual grass in the rice genus Oryza, also known as red rice, related to cultivated rice O. sativa. O. punctata forms clumps or tussocks from 50–120 cm tall. It is a native to tropical Africa and Madagascar but is also found in Thailand and other parts of Indochina. O. punctata is a weed species in commercial rice growing operations although it appears to be rare in its native range. O. punctata has an IUCN status of least concern. It is not generally eaten or used as fodder by farmers but there is some evidence that it has been used as such during periods of famine. Due to the importance of the crop varieties of rice (Oryza. sativa and O. glaberrima) globally, the evolution of the Oryza genus as a whole has been studied extensively. A lot of information about O. punctata has been elucidated as a secondary benefit to this commercial research. O. punctata evolved some 5 million years ago in the second of two rapid radiation events that occurred in the Oryza L. genus.
Other Information
It is a famine food.
Notes
There are about 20 Oryza species. This can a diploid or tetraploid species with BB or BBCC genomes. Chemical composition: Protein (crude) = 13.9% (dry). Oil = 4.0% (dry). Ash (insoluble) = 4.4% (dry). Fibre (crude) = 2.9% (dry). Carbohydrate (soluble) (starch) = 70.0% (dry). Sucrose) = 1.0% (dry). D-glucose = 0.2% (dry). D-fructose = 0% (dry). Amino acids (g[16gN ]-1): Aspartic acid = 9.7g. Threonine = 3.4g. Serine = 4.0g. Glutamic acid = 19.3g. Proline = 3.8g. Glycine = 4.5g. Alanine = 5.5g. Valine = 5.9g. Cysteine = 1.5g. Methionine = 2.2g. Isoleucine = 4.1g. Leucine = 8.6g. Tyrosine = 4.8g. Phenylalanine = 5.2g. Histidine = 2.3g. Lysine = 3.6g. Arginine = 8.4g. Fatty acids (saturated) (g/100g)-1: 14:0 = 0.6g. 16:0 = 20.6g. 18:0 = 2.2g. 22:0 = 0.4g. 24:0 = 0.5g; (monounsaturated): 16:1 = 0.1g. 20:1 = 0.6g; (polyunsaturated): 18:2 = 30.6g. 18:3 = 1.9g. Minerals: Sulphur = 0.14% (dry). Potassium = 0.55% (dry). Magnesium = 0.27% (dry). Calcium = 0.04% (dry). Na = 0.01%. K = 0.37%. Zinc = 39mg/kg-1 (dry). Iron = 168mg/kg-1 (dry). Manganese = 49mg/kg-1 (dry). Copper = 7mg/kg -1(dry). Aluminum = 562mg/kg-1 (dry).
Names & Synonyms
Ruz al wadi
References (9)
- ABDELMUTI,
- Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 2. Kew.
- Long, C., 2005, Swaziland's Flora - siSwati names and Uses http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora/
- National Research Council, 1996, Lost crops of Africa. Volume 1 grains, p 271
- NOUR & HARPER,
- SALIH,
- Swaziland's Flora Database http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora
- Syn. pl. glumac. 1:3. 1853
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
