Definition

Noun: * A genus of tall aquatic grasses, commonly known as wild rice, native to North America and Asia. The plants grow in shallow water in lakes and slow-flowing streams, and some species produce an edible grain that is harvested as a cereal.

Usage

• The term "genus Zizania" is used in formal, scientific contexts such as botany, ecology, and agriculture to classify and discuss these specific aquatic plants. It is the taxonomic category above the level of individual species.
• Example: "The study focused on the ecological impact of genus Zizania in wetland habitats."

Examples

• Scientific Classification: "In the botanical garden, the section dedicated to aquatic plants features several species from genus Zizania."
• Agricultural Context: "Researchers are developing new cultivation techniques for genus Zizania to improve grain yield."
• Ecological Discussion: "The conservation plan aims to protect the marshes where genus Zizania thrives."

Advanced Usage

• The genus name is often used in italics in scientific writing to denote its status as a Latin botanical name.
  • Example: "The paper described a new pathogen affecting Zizania species in the Great Lakes region."

Variants and Related Words

• Zizania (n): The abbreviated form of the genus name, used interchangeably in scientific literature.
• Wild rice (n): The common name for the edible grain produced by plants of the genus , particularly and . Note: This is the name for the cereal, not a direct synonym for the genus itself.
• Annual wild rice (n): Refers to species like , which complete their life cycle in one year.
• Perennial wild rice (n): Refers to species like , which live for multiple years.

Synonyms

• Scientific Synonym: There are no direct common-language synonyms for the taxonomic designation "genus Zizania." In informal contexts, one might refer to "the wild rice genus" or "aquatic grasses of the group."

Related Phrases

• Zizania aquatica (n): A species within the genus, known as annual wild rice.
• Zizania palustris (n): A species within the genus, known as northern wild rice.
• Zizania latifolia (n): A species within the genus, known as Manchurian wild rice or water bamboo.

Noun

1. wild rice