Common Rice (Oryza sativa)

Common Rice – Staple Grain Crop

Oryza sativa, known as Common Rice, is an annual grass cultivated worldwide as a primary food source for over half the global population. It grows in flooded paddies (lowland rice) or upland conditions, with numerous varieties adapted to different climates. The plant has hollow stems, long flat leaves, and a terminal panicle bearing the edible grains. Beyond its agricultural importance, rice paddies create unique wetland habitats. This entry represents the species in a general botanical context.

Taxonomic Details