Oryza sativa

Oryza sativa, having the common name Asian cultivated rice, is the much more common of the two rice species cultivated as a cereal, the other species being O. glaberrima, African rice. It was first domesticated in the Yangtze River basin in China 13,500 to 8,200 years ago. Oryza sativa belongs to the genus Oryza and the BOP clade in the grass family Poaceae. With a genome consisting of 430 Mbp across 12 chromosomes, it is renowned for being easy to genetically modify and is a model organism for the study of the biology of cereals and monocots.

Description

An annual grass with hollow stems. The stems can be 30 cm to 150 cm tall. (Floating varieties can be 5 m long.) The nodes are solid and swollen. The stem is protected by a skin layer which can often be high in silicon. A clump of shoots are produced as tillers from buds in the lower leaf axils. The leaves are narrow and hairy. They taper towards the tip. Each stem produces 10-20 leaves and the seeds hang from the flower stalk at the top. Some varieties are glutinous and cling together when cooked.

Edible Uses

The seed is the primary food product and can be boiled or steamed. It features in a huge range of savoury and sweet dishes worldwide — including curries, Far Eastern cuisines, paella, risotto, and rice pudding. The grain can also be popped like popcorn to make a breakfast cereal. An oil extracted from the seed is used in cooking and as a salad oil.

Traditional Uses

Africa, Angola, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bougainville, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Central Asia, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo DR, Congo R, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial-Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guam, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iraq, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Liberia, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Sahel, Samoa, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Uganda, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Medicinal Uses

Rice is regarded as a nutritive, soothing, tonic herb that is diuretic, reduces lactation, aids digestion, and controls sweating. The seeds are taken internally for urinary dysfunction. Seeds, or germinated seeds, are used to treat excessive lactation. Germinated seeds are also taken for poor appetite, indigestion, abdominal discomfort, and bloating. The grains are often cooked with herbs to prepare a medicinal gruel. The rhizome is used internally for night sweats, particularly in cases of tuberculosis and chronic pneumonia; rhizomes are harvested at the end of the growing season and dried for use in decoctions.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical and subtropical countries. Plants are grown in both flooded and dryland sites. It will grow over a range of conditions but is normally between sea level and 900 metres altitude in the tropics. Occasionally it is grown up to 1600 m. In Nepal it grows to about 2800 m altitude. It needs a frost free period of over 130 days. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.

Where It Grows

Coming Soon

Cultivation

Rice can be grown in the moist tropics and subtropics, succeeding at elevations up to 2,500 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 30°c, but can tolerate 10 - 36°c. Growth ceases below 10°c and plants have no tolerance to frost. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,500 - 2,000mm, but tolerates 1,000 - 4,000mm. Requires a wet to inundated soil and a position in full sun. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7, tolerating 4.5 - 9. Depending upon variety, rice can mature a crop of seed in anything from 60 - 200 days. There are many named varieties that have been developed to suit a wide diversity of climates and soil types. These can be grouped into two main forms:- Lowland - this is grown in land that is flooded during the growing season. Upland - this form does not require submersion by water. There are many different cultivars of each form. Some of these cultivars are starchy and are more suited to use in cakes, soups, pastry, breakfast foods etc. Other cultivars have a sweeter, glutinous texture, these are used for special purposes such as sweetmeats. Within these divisions, the varieties are further defined by whether they have short, medium or long grains. Long grained forms usually have the highest value, though short-grained forms are preferred in many countries. Flowering Time: Late Summer/Early Fall. Bloom Color: Cream/Tan. Spacing: 18-24 in. (45-60 cm).

Propagation

Propagate by seed.

Other Uses

Rice straw is woven into hats and shoes and used for thatching, repairing houses, constructing grain storage structures, making ropes, packaging, and bags. In Vietnam it serves as a fuel. In China, India, Indonesia, and Pakistan it is used in paper production. Rice starch is used in cosmetics, laundering starch, and textiles. Oil from the seed is used in soap manufacture and can be made into a plastic packaging material. The grain husks are used as a fuel, as an addition to concrete, for making hardboard, and as an abrasive.

Production

There are about 20 Oryza species. The B Vitamins are in the outer layers of brown rice.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Akki, Araisa, Ari, Arishi, Arisi, Aro, Arroz, Arus, Ba, Bak, Beras, Bhat, Bhatta, Biring, Biyyamu, Byeo, Chahai, Chal, Chaval, Chawal, Choka, Dangar, Dao, Dhan, Dhanya, Goyam, Iresi, Kao chow, Kao nyo, Kao, Kome, Mo, Murii, Nasi, Nellu, Nivara, Padi, Pari, Raisi, Reis, Resi, Riso, Riz, Schinkafa, Shinkafa, Sok, Syali, Tandula, Re raiti, Vadlu, Varidhanyamu, Vrihi, Wee, Yimwa

References (75)

• Abbiw, D.K., 1990, Useful Plants of Ghana. West African uses of wild and cultivated plants. Intermediate Technology Publications and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p 24
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 415 (Also as Oryza perennis)
• Anderson, E. F., 1993, Plants and people of the Golden Triangle. Dioscorides Press. p 217
• Bernholt, H. et al, 2009, Plant species richness and diversity in urban and peri-urban gardens of Niamey, Niger. Agroforestry Systems 77:159-179
• Bianchini, F., Corbetta, F., and Pistoia, M., 1975, Fruits of the Earth. Cassell. p 26

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