ORYZEZ 191 
of 2 small glumes. Of the half-dozen species 
only one is of importance. This is O. sativa L. 
(Fig. 30), the cultivated rice, an annual now 
erown in numerous varieties throughout the 
warmer regions of the world. 
f Rice is the most important of 
the cereals in the sense that it 
furnishes food to more people 
| than any other one grain. 
The allied genus Homalocenchrus 
is represented by several perennial 
species in the eastern United States. 
The spikelets resem- 
ble those of Oryza but are 
smaller and lack the 
glumes. , 
225. Zizania L—Indian 
rice. Water-rice. Tall 
marsh-grasses, with large 
panicles, usually growing 
in shallow water in large =\\\bi) 
areas. The pistillatespike- _ 
lets are long-awned and Bites 
erect, the staminate are ¢ Ze AN 
awnless and drooping. 3 Zp MS \ 
The seeds were formerly ail 
Fig. 30. Oryza sa- 
tiva. Inflorescence, gathered by the American 1p 
x 4, spikelet, X3. : 
Indians and used for food. 
There are 3 species, Zizania palustris L. 
(Fig. 31), the common Indian rice of the ere 
° . G. . 1zanla 
United States, Z. aquatica L., a less com- palustris Inflores- 
ence, muc re- 
mon species of Canada, and Z. latifolia duced. (U. 8. Dept. 
. Agr., Div. Agrost., 
(Turez.) Stapf, of eastern Asia. Bull. 14.) 
