Oryza glaberrima

Oryza glaberrima, commonly known as African rice, is one of the two domesticated rice species. The species was first domesticated and grown in West Africa around 3,000 years ago. In agriculture, it makes up an estimated 20% of rice grown commercially in West Africa, having largely been replaced by higher-yielding O. sativa (Asian rice). The number of O. glaberrima varieties grown is declining. Crossbreeding between African and Asian rice is difficult, but there exist some crosses. In comparison to O. sativa (Asian rice), African rice is hardy, pest-resistant, low-labour, and suited to a larger variety of African conditions. It is described as filling, with a distinct nutty flavour. It is also grown for cultural reasons.

Description

An annual grass. Most varieties have a reddish colour. It grows 1.5 m but can be 5 m in some floating kinds. Dryland types often form tufts and floating rice often branches. The leaves are alternate and simple. The leaf sheath is 25 cm long. The leaf blade is 20-25 cm long and 6-9 mm wide. The flowers are in a compact group 25 cm long at the top of the plant. The fruit is a grain 9 mm long by 3 mm wide.

Edible Uses

The grain can be cooked and eaten or ground into flour, which is sweetened with rice flour and honey for bread. It is also fermented into beer.

Traditional Uses

The grain can be cooked and eaten. It is also ground into flour. This is sweetened with rice flour and honey for bread. It is fermented into beer.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Multiple varieties of African rice are often grown so that the harvest is staggered. In this way, the harvest can be eaten fresh. Freshly harvested rice is moist, and can be puffed in fire, and eaten. Fried rice has a brownish color when fried; this is because of the husk which is green in color and turns brown when heated. African rice can be prepared in much the same way as Asian rice, but has a distinct nutty flavor, for which it is favored in West Africa. African rice grains are often reddish in colour; some varieties are strongly aromatic, other, like Carolina Gold, are not at all aromatic. African rice is also used in local traditional medicine.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It is grown in swamps. It grows on flood plains of savanna regions. It does best with temperatures of 30-35°C. It grows from sea level to 1,700 m altitude. It can tolerate low soil fertility. In Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Africa, Asia, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Chad, China, Congo, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, El Salvador, Equatorial-Guinea, Ethiopia, French Equatorial Africa, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger*, Nigeria, Panama, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South America, Sudan, Togo, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. Usually seeds remain dormant for a few months after harvesting. Seed usually emerge after 4-5 days. Seed are usually broadcast without using a nursery. The juvenile stage lasts for 3 weeks then tillering occurs for 3-4 weeks.

Propagation

Seed - germinates within 4 - 5 days from sowing. 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 to a sunny position. Grow on until large enough to plant out.

Other Information

It is a cultivated food plant.

Notes

There are about 20 Oryza species. This is a diploid species with AgAg genome.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Baga-male, Erisi, Issa-mo, Kamor, Kebelei, Kono, Mala, maPunga, Mba, Mbei, Mou-ber, Osikapa, Pa, Red rice, Riz des Baga, West African rice

References (31)

• Baa-Poku, F. & Asante, I. K., 2020, Use of Neglected and Underutilized Crop Species (NUCS) in some farming communities in the Upper Afram and Upper Dayi River Basins in Ghana. International Journal of Technology and Management Research 5 (2): 48-63
• Bezançon, G. & Diallo, S., 2006. Oryza glaberrima Steud. [Internet] Record from Protabase. Brink, M. & Belay, G. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa), Wageningen, Netherlands. < http://database.prota.org/search.htm>. Accessed 20 October 200919 October 2009.
• Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 2. Kew.
• Chang, T.T., 1979, Rice, in Simmonds N.W.,(ed), Crop Plant Evolution. Longmans. London. p 98
• Cobley, L.S. (rev. Steele, W.M.) 2nd Ed., 1976, An Introduction to the Botany of Tropical Crops. Longmans. p 27

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