Oryza sativa* L. Sp. Pl. 1:
333 (1753).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Ehrhartoideae. Tribe Oryzeae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: LT: (LINN-460.1). LT designated by Meikle, Fl. Cyprus
2: 1716 (1985). LT: India (LINN-460.1). LT designated by Duistermaat, Blumea
32: 174 (1987).
Key references
(books and floras): [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (550),
[1969] E.E.Henty, Manual Grasses New Guinea (135), [2002] D.Sharp
& B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (310),
[2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2
(367).
Illustrations:
[1984] N.T.Burbidge. rev. S.W.L.Jacobs, Australian Grasses (191), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley
& D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (310).
Habit. Annual
or perennial. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 45–190 cm tall, 3–20 -noded.
Leaf-sheaths smooth, glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath auricles present. Ligule
an eciliate membrane, 15–30 mm long, entire or lacerate, obtuse or acute.
Leaf-blades 12–65 cm long, 4–22 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous or
scabrous, glabrous or indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle lanceolate, 9–50 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 2 basal sterile
florets, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, elliptic
or oblong, laterally compressed, 8–11 mm long.
Glumes. Upper
glume 0.2 mm long. Florets. Basal sterile florets 2 or more, barren,
without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret membranous, 1 -nerved.
Fertile
lemma 6–11 mm long, keeled, 3(–5) -nerved. Lemma surface glabrous or
indumented. Lemma apex muticous or awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn
0–160 mm long overall. Palea 3 -nerved, 1-keeled. Lodicules present. Anthers 6.
Grain 5.1–7.5 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia,
Pacific, North America, and South America.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland.
Western Australia:
Gardner. Drummond. Northern Territory: Darwin & Gulf. Queensland:
North Kennedy.
Notes.
Cultivated rice, the staple food in many parts of the world, and grown in many
forms.
Introduced.
Native to India, now cultivated all over the world in tropical to Mediterranean
areas. Marshes and wet, inundated fields, in fresh or brackish water.
