Zizania
(adapted from Zizanion, the old Greek name of some wild grain; it is the word which, in the New Testament, is translated "tares"). Water or Indian Rice. SYNS. Hydropyrum, Melinum. ORD. Gramineae. A small genus (two species) of tall, hardy, aquatic Grasses, natives of North America. Flowers monoecious; spikelets jointed with the club-shaped pedicels, very deciduous; glumes wanting or rudimentary; panicle ample, terminal. Leaves long and flat. The grain of S. aquatica (Canada or Indian Rice; Water Oats) is largely gathered for food by the North-west American Indians. The species have no horticultural value.