Wild Rice

Zizania palustris

Illustration: Wild rice (Zizania palustris) grain heads

Identification: Tall aquatic grass (up to 8 ft) in shallow lakes; grain heads with long awns rising above the water in late summer.

Dangerous look-alikes: No toxic look-alike — but harvesting is regulated and culturally significant. On many lakes, only licensed/tribal harvest is legal; check local rules.

Edible parts: Grain.

Season and habitat: Late summer–early fall. Shallow northern lakes.

Preparation: Traditionally harvested by canoe — bend stalks over the boat and knock grains loose with sticks ('knockers'). Parch, thresh, and winnow. Nutty, chewy, superb.

Notes: A sacred food of the Ojibwe; buy tribal-harvested rice if you don't harvest yourself.