Red Rice

Red Rice

Oryza punctata Kotzchy ex Steud.

Poaceae (Grass Family)

▲field with red rice above cultivated rice

▲ young plants

▲ ▼ stems

▲ stem showing long hairs at collar region

Red Rice:

• upright-growing summer annual grass, 2.5-3 feet tall, with bright green stems and leaves
• often is distinguishable in a rice field by being taller and greener than desired cultivated variety of rice
• leaf blades are 1-2 feet long and 1/2 to 1 inch wide
• inflorescences is loose, drooping panicle
• can be distinguished from cultivated rice by presence of long hairs at collar, tall triangular membranous ligule and auricles
• has staggered seed maturity, prone to “shattering" (dropping seed from inflorescence before harvest), delayed germination, and can contaminate harvested rice grains and reduce quality of cultivated rice

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