African Rice – CornellBotanicGardens

By Sarah Fiorello July 29, 2022

Grass Family (Poaceae)

Native to Western Africa

Distinguished by a reddish seed coat and long, whisker-like spiked tips, this rice is commonly known as red bearded upland rice. It was cultivated by enslaved people and other farmers in the southern U.S. for personal consumption through the 19th century, but was not grown in large-scale commercial operations.

Variety in this display:

Oryza glaberrima ‘Hill Rice’

Listen to learn more: Access a short narrative here.