Wild Rice

Description:

The stems of this grass may be up to 2 m in height. Leaves are long and slender. Early in the year it lays flat on the surface of the water, but as the seedhead starts to develop the plant becomes erect as shown in the first photograph. It can grow in dense stands as shown in the second photo.

Habitat:

This grass grows in shallow, still water in slow-flowing streams and shallow lakes.

Notes:

This was a staple food of Native Americans in the northcentral US and parts of Canada. It is still harvested by Native Americans, but is much rarer and less widespread than it once was. It's decline is probably due to control of fluctuating water levels and pollution (to which it seems to be particularly susceptible, particularly sulfide mining). It was once common in central and southern Minnesota, but no longer exists here in any great quantities in this area. One of my favorite memories is canoeing through a vast stretch of ripe wild rice while on a wilderness canoeing trip in northern Minnesota. As we passed through the wild rice, ripe seeds would drop into the bottom of the canoe. While it is illegal to collect wild rice without a permit in Minnesota, we couldn't help nibbling a bit and participating in an ancient tradition. It first needs to be dried, parched, and winnowed to make any usable quantities. Still, it was a wonderful experience.