Zizania L.

Monoecious aquatic annuals or perennials, rhizomes and stolons sometimes present. Culms tall, erect, robust. Leaf blades linear to broadly lanceolate; ligule membranous. Inflorescence a large panicle, spikelets unisexual and mostly borne on separate branches; lower branches spreading, bearing pendulous, caducous male spikelets; upper branches erect or ascending at maturity, bearing appressed, tardily deciduous female spikelets; or middle branches with mixed male and female spikelets (Z. latifolia). Spikelets with 1 floret, falling entire; glumes absent; lemma as long as spikelet, 5-veined; palea subequal to lemma, narrower, 3-veined. Male spikelet: lemma membranous, weakly flattened, acuminate or awn-pointed; stamens 6. Female spikelet: lemma papery or leathery, cylindrical, tapering into a long slender awn; palea closely clasped by lemma. Caryopsis cylindrical, embryo half as long, hilum almost as long as caryopsis. x = 15 or 17.