Family:Gramineae .Rice (Oryza sativa) is one of abou t 20 species of
aquatic or swamp-dwelling, annual or perennial grasses in this
genus, occurring wild in warmer parts of Africa, Asia and Australia.
They have loose panicles of compressed flowering spikelets that
ripen to edible grains. The only species to have been domesticated,
rice is thought to havebeen cultivated in China for about 5,000
years. Today, almost all of east Asia is wholly dependent upon rice
as a staple food
Cultivation: Rice needs a long hot growing season and requires
abundant water. The seeds are sown in nursery beds or trays and when
about 6 in (15 cm) high they are transplanted in spring to a
well-fertilized level plot or paddy which must be submerged under
water about 2-4 in (5-10 cm) deep for a large part of the summer
growing season. When the rice is ready to harvest, the water is
drained from the field. For ornamental purposes, rice can be grown
in pots that are submerged in shallow water in a sunny position near
a water feature or pond.
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