ORYZA

Oryza L., Sp. Pl. 1: 333. 1753; Gen. Pl. ed. 5: 155. 1754; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 7: 92. 1897; Sharma & Khosla, Grasses Punj. and Chandigarh 19. 1989; Fl. China @ eFloras.org 22: 182; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org p. 15.

Annuals or perennials, erect. Leaf blades long, broadly linear, flat; ligule membranous. Inflorescence open, dense, branches numerous, racemes with shortly pedicelled spikelets. Spikelets 3-flowered, strongly laterally compressed, falling entire from pedicel; Glumes absent or represented by shallow lobed frill at pedicel apex; sterile florets reduced to 2 narrow lemmas at base of fertile floret (often confused as glumes); upper floret fertile: lemma coriaceous, closely papillose, sometimes spinulose, strongly keeled, prominently 5-nerved, with or without an awn, awn straight; palea resembling lemma (as long as lemma, similar in texture, keeled) but narrower, 3-nerved, apex beaked. Stamens 6. Stigmas 2. Caryopsis variable in shape; hilum linear, as long as caryopsis.

19 species

Oryza sativa

Oryza sativa L., Sp. Pl. 1: 333. 1753; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 7: 92. 1897; Bor, Grasses Burma, Ceyl. Ind. Pak. 605. 1960; Babu, Herb. Fl. Dehra Dun 627. 1977; Kaur & Sharma, Fl. Sirmaur 680. 2004; Fl. China @ eFloras.org 22: 183.

Annual, aquatic, tufted. Culms erect, fistular, 1-1.5 m tall, rooting at lower submerged nodes. Leaves cauline. Leaf blades 40-50 cm x 1.5-2 cm, broadly linear, flat, scabrid on both surfaces and margin, apex acuminate; leaf sheaths slightly inflated at lower nodes, upper sheaths tight, glabrous, auricles ciliate; ligule membranous, 20-30 mm long, triangular-lanceolate. Panicle loosely contracted, up to 45 cm long, arching or pendulous, nodding at maturity, branches 1-3 at lowest node; racemes 2-12 cm long, rachis glabrous. Pedicels ca. 4 mm long, stout, scabrous. Spikelets oblong, 8-10 mm long, 2.5-3 mm broad, laterally compressed, persistent. Glumes represented by a shallow lobed frill at pedicel apex below spikelet. Spikelets 3-flowered, lower 2 florets sterile and one upper fertile, bisexual. Sterile florets: Lemmas (lower lemmas) 2-3 mm long, nearly equal, scale-like, lanceolate, acuminate, 1-nerved. Paleas absent. Fertile floret: Strongly laterally compressed; its lemma (upper lemma) coriaceous, closely papillose, strongly keeled, prominently 5-nerved, ciliate, awnless, apex beaked, its palea (upper palea) nearly resembles upper lemma but narrower and 3-nerved. Lodicules 2. Stamens 6; filaments filiform, anthers 2-3 mm long, oblong. Stigmas 2. Caryopsis ovate or elliptic to cylindrical, 6-8 mm, brownish.

Flowering and Fruiting: August to October
Common Names: Rice, Paddy, Sake; Chawal, Dhan (Hindi)