| Author | L. | |
| Distribution | Outer Coastal Plain, very local on the Outer Banks.
ME to ND, south to northern FL and southern LA. | |
| Abundance | Uncommon and local, but where found can be fairly common to abundant. This is a Watch List species. | |
| Habitat | Fresh-tidal marshes, brackish marshes along blackwater streams and at the periphery of sounds, interdune marshes and ponds. |
| Phenology | Flowering and fruiting June-October. | |
| Identification | Annual Wild-rice is very distinct. Plants usually emerge from shallow water, the stems typically reaching 6-9 feet tall -- our tallest annual grass. Leaves are 2-3 feet long and up to 2 inches wide. The inflorescence is fairly open and 1-2 feet long, the lower branches arching while the upper branches are strongly ascending. It is a good food for waterfowl, and it is the only known foodplant for caterpillars of the Rare Skipper (Problema bulenta) in NC. | |
| Taxonomic Comments | A restricted variety occurs in the St. Lawrence River estuary.
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| Other Common Name(s) | Wild Rice, Indian Rice. As Zizaniopsis miliacea is generally named as Southern Wild-rice, it is best to use a modifier name for Zizania -- Annual Wild-rice and not just Wild Rice. | |
| State Rank | S2 | |
| Global Rank | G5 | |
| State Status | [W7] | |
| US Status | | |
| USACE-agcp | OBL link |
| USACE-emp | OBL link |
