Japan, South East Asia and Southern United States and Canada. Naturally abundant in the cold rivers and lakes of Minnesota and Canada, wild rice was the staple in the diet of the Chippewa and Sioux Indians, native to this region.

More truly aquatic than the ordinary rice. Tall, aquatic, annual or perennial grasses of N. America and Asia.

It is just like the ordinary rice with the parent plant a sprophyte. The wild rice plant has some very distinct growth stages and very unique environmental conditions as well.

It is not generally cultured. But the commercial supply of this nutritious grains comes from upper Great Lake regions and Canada. Certain Indian Tribes have got the exclusive right to harvest that. Is cultivated as an ornamental, and is a valuable food plant for people and wildlife.

Culture trials has been done in California by some farmers. But it is not regarded as a commercial scale operation. The long, dark seeds are the wild rice of commerce. Grow and bear well in moist soil above water level, also. Will naturalize readily, where conditions are suitable. Both the seeds and plants are highly attractive to wildlife.

Bardach, J.E., J.H. Ryther, and W.O. McLarney. 1972. Aquaculture The farming and husbandry of freshwater and marine organisms. John Wiley & Sons New York.