Species

Zizania latifolia

Common Name(s)

Manchurian rice grass

Authority

Zizania latifolia (Griseb.) Stapf

Family

Poaceae

Brief Description

Large growing marginal emergent grass with light (dull) green, coarse, long straight leaves growing in fans, and purplish - red/brown flowers.

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

NVS Species Code

ZIZLAT

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Grasses

Distribution

Locally naturalised Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Wellington, abundant on the margins of Northern Wairoa River, Northland.

Habitat

Lowland still and slow flowing water bodies (both resh water or moderately saline).

Features

Tall marginal perennial. Coarse tufts, 2-4m in height. Stout spreading rhizomes. Leaves light green, up to 1 m or more long and 1-2 cm wide, with a stout midrib, papery, harsh, dull greygreen, taper to point, rustle loudly in wind The ligule a very dense fringe of hairs. Inflorescenses purplish or reddish brown, 20 to 40 cm long, dense and soft to touch. Lower part is spreading and male, the upper part is more closed and with female flowers.

Similar Taxa

Raupo (Typha orientalis). Raupo is usually shorter (1-3m) than Manchurian wild rice, with bluish-green leaves with a characteristic twist in the leaf blade and a cylindrical brown flower spike.

Flowering

November, December

Flower Colours

Green,Violet / Purple

Fruiting

Autumn

Year Naturalised

1906

Origin

Eastern Asia

Reason for Introduction

Accidental, contamination of ballast

Control Techniques

Notify Ministry for Primary Industries if found.

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Perennial. Plants are hermaphroditic with the female inflorescence borne above the male inflorescence. Large amounts of seed is produced which germinated quickly. Reproduces through seed or vegetatively through tailoring and rhizome extension. Rhizomes spread slowly outwards. Seeds and rhizome fragments spread via water, livestock, machinery, e.g. graders, dumping of green waste, eel nets, boats and trailers, clothing and possibly by birds.

Tolerances

Tolerant of drought and frost; highly tolerant of poor drainage and intolerant of shade. Regrowth from underground rhizomes occurs after physical damage, fire and grazing.

Attribution

Factsheet prepared by Paul Champion and Deborah Hofstra (NIWA).

References and further reading

Champion et al (2012). Freshwater Pests of New Zealand.  NIWA publication. http://www.niwa.co.nz/freshwater-and-estuaries/management-tools/identification-guides-and-fact-sheets/freshwater-pest-species.

Johnson PN, Brooke PA (1989).  Wetland plants in New Zealand.   DSIR Field Guide, DSIR Publishing, Wellington. 319pp.

This page last updated on 21 Aug 2013