Rice

Characteristics

Rice is a monocarpic annual plant, growing to 1–1.8 m tall, occasionally more depending on the variety and soil fertility. The grass has long, slender leaves 50–100 cm long and 2–2.5 cm broad. The small wind-pollinated flowers are produced in a branched arching to pendulous inflorescence 30–50 cm long. Each panicle has 50 to 300 flowers (floret or spikelet), which form the grains.

The seed is a grain (caryopsis) 5–12 mm long and 2–3 mm thick. Rice presents a great capacity for ramifying.

Last updated: 23-06-2008