Zizania palustris var. interior
Interior wild rice, northern wild rice, Northern Wild Rice
(c) Mary Krieger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mary Krieger · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Not Native
Zizania palustris var. interior (Interior wild rice) is a non-native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by Non-native waif from central/eastern North America, only Zizania species recorded in California.
Interior wild rice is a naturalized annual grass found in northern Sierra Valley, northern Sierra Nevada Foothills, and Modoc Plateau in generally muddy shores and shallow water at elevations below 1,200 meters. Flowering in August, this plant produces pale green to tan flowers in large, branching inflorescences 2 to 5 decimeters long. Growing with tall, robust stems 1 to 3 meters high that are slightly hairy at the nodes, it forms impressive stands in wetland environments. Its long leaves measure 15 to 60 centimeters in length and 6 to 40 millimeters wide, extending broadly from the stem. The plant produces distinctive spikelets with staminate flowers 6 to 8 millimeters long and pistillate flowers 10 to 20 millimeters long, featuring awns 5 to 40 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Non-native waif from central/eastern North America, only Zizania species recorded in California
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally muddy shores and shallow water
Elevation: < 1200 m
Outside California: native to north-central and eastern United States, adjacent Canada
Bloom period
Zizania palustris var. interior blooms Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Phyllostachys: Zizania is a tall aquatic grass with open flower clusters; bamboo has woody stems and different flower structure.; vs Cortaderia: Zizania has smooth, separate male/female branches; pampas grass has huge fluffy unisexual plumes.; vs Arundo: Zizania has hairless flowers and vestigial glumes; giant reed has hairy flowers and normal glumes.; vs Phragmites: Zizania has smooth flowers with male/female branches; common reed has silky-hairy flowers in dense plumes.; vs Saccharum: Zizania has hairless flowers and no glumes; sugarcane has silky-hairy flowers with normal glumes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Zizania palustris var. interior native to California?
No. Zizania palustris var. interior is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Zizania palustris var. interior bloom?
Zizania palustris var. interior blooms Aug.
What plant family does Zizania palustris var. interior belong to?
Zizania palustris var. interior is in the Poaceae family, genus Zizania.
What habitat does Zizania palustris var. interior grow in?
Zizania palustris var. interior grows in Generally muddy shores and shallow water.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.