A History of Agriculture in India v1.c23.s8.1

v1.c23.s8.1

The genus *Oryza*, to which rice belongs, has 28 species and subspecies, of which 26 are wild and two, *O. sativa* and *O. glaberrima*, are cultivated. All the rice varieties of Asia, Europe, and America belong to *O. sativa*, and of West Africa to *O. glaberrima*. India has five wild species, of which *O. sativa* var. *fatua* is a common weed in many states. *O. perennis*, found wild in Orissa, has a short rhizome, a branched floating stem and perennial habit. In wild rices, grains shatter easily and are difficult to harvest.