Oryza punctata
Oryza punctata
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
The diploid form of this plant grows best in open to semi-shaded areas, whilst the triploid is found in semi-shaded to shaded areas[1]. Both forms prefer a black clay or sandy soil[1]. The plant is a noxious weed in rice cultivation and a potential seed contaminant of rice cultivars[2]. Plants can be in flower at any time of the year[1].
Propagation
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[1]. 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[1]. Surface sow the seed in light shade and do not allow to dry out. Seed should germinate within 7 days at 30°c[1]. Prick out 2 - 3 seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle and, after a few days, move the diploid form to a sunny position. Grow on until large enough to plant out. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Oryza+punctata>
Pollinators
Wind
References
- [1]The Wild Relatives of Rice, A Genetic Resources Handbook — Vaughan D.A. · International Rice Research Institute; Philippines · 1994 · http://irri.org/ · ISBN 971-22-0057-4 ↩︎An excellent guide to the wild species of the genus Oryza. It gives good descriptions of the species, habitats etc and often gives details of uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet
- [2]Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. — http://www.prota.org ↩︎An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
- [3]Flora Zambesiaca — http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html ↩︎An excellent online flora of plants from the Zambezi River basin. It lists a number of the plant uses as well as the habitats and botanical descriptions of the plants.