Texas Wild Rice
Rare and Endangered
Background
The plant was named Zizania texana in 1932 but its commonly known as Texas Wild rice. It has long green leaves up to 45 inches in length and 1/4 to 1 inch wide. The rice "seeds" are black or brown. It is found only in the upper two miles of the San Marcos River.
Causes of extinction and solutions.
This plant is endangered because the river water is being impacted by the growth of the city of San Marcos and increasing numbers of people swimming, canoeing, and tubing the river and more water is being used. Nutria, a non-native rodent that lives in wetland areas, is also a threat because it eats the wild-rice. Some institutions in San Antonio are testing the water and the plant to see if it can survive in a different location.
Texas Wile Rice Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.
"TEXAS WILD RICE." BEATY, HAROLD E. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.
"TEXAS WILD RICE." BEATY, HAROLD E. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.