It is native to North America. In it natural states it is found mainly along the shores of rivers and streams in shallow water and at outlets and inlets of lakes. Seed germination is evident when the coleoptiles that covers the leaves breaks through the tough outer layer the seed.
Germination of the wild rice seed begins with snowmelt and spring runoff from mid to late April.
Wild rice is primarily wind pollinated, a process that ensures genetic diversity through outcrossing. In addition, the plant has some capacity for self-pollination. Breezes, birds feeding on wild rice worms, and insects – particularly bees – all assist pollination.
The wild rice plant is 5-6 feet tall with five or six leaves on the main tiller and can develop 20-30 tillers.
Kernel of mature grain with lemma and palea (hulls) removed (caryopsis) vary from 0.3 to 0.18 inches in diameter.
Wild rice grows best in full sunlight and the light intensity in the underwater habitat can become a limiting factor of algae, scum, or debris crowd the surface.
Wild rice crop
