Oryza rufipogon
Oryza rufipogon
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
Prefers an open, sunny position. Prefers a clay-loam soil and a black soil, and is able to grow in water from 20 - 400cm deep[1]. This species is widely believed to be the closest related species to the cultivated rice (Oryza sativa). It is spread widely through the tropics and subtropics and is considered to be invasive in many parts of Central and South America where it has become naturalized. It is considered to be a weed in rice fields, as it easily crosses with the cultivated rice, reducing its market value[2, 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 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+rufipogon>
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]IUCN Red List of Threatened Species — http://www.iucnredlist.org/ ↩︎A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
- [3]Plant Resources of Southeast Asia — http://proseanet.org/ ↩︎Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.