Oryza sativa var. glutinosa Seeds | Glutinous Rice
LATIN NAME: Oryza sativa var. Glutinosa
COMMON NAME: Glutinous Rice
Plant Profile
Known to gardeners as Glutinous Rice, Oryza sativa var. Glutinosa is a sturdy, upright annual in the grass family. Sticky rice is quiet, glutinous heart of kitchens of the East. Plant is one of great staple crops of wet fields, and grain has a very long record of use in kitchens of the East. It is a plant of warm, moist, rich ground. The flowers pull in pollinating insects, which quietly widens its usefulness in the garden. The ratio of effort to reward here is about as good as gardening gets.
Science & Biotechnology
Within the grass family, Oryza sativa var. Glutinosa is of continuing interest to researchers working on plant diversity, seed biology and the selection of improved garden forms. Glutinous rice is a quiet giant of plant science, studied for short, plump grains that cook into sticky, glossy mass. Contemporary seed practice means a grower can raise it confidently with standard techniques.
Uses & Benefits
Glutinous Rice brings genuine presence to the garden and earns its keep across the growing season. Glutinous rice is sticky heart of kitchens of the East. Short, plump grains cook into sticky, glossy mass that is base of dumplings, puddings, rice cakes and savoury parcels of a dozen cuisines, and grain is also ground into fine flour of sweet pastries. Plant is one of great crops of wet fields, and straw is put to its own quiet uses in craft and the thatch. Once it has settled, the workload drops to almost nothing.
Rice feeds half the world, and its forms carry medicine: rice germ and bran supply gamma-oryzanol and vitamin E, red yeast rice contains natural monacolins, and sprouted brown rice is a studied functional food.
Growing from Seed
Sow fresh seed of Glutinous Rice under ordinary good conditions. A simple routine works well: sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly in a loose, well-drained seed compost, maintain even moisture, and provide bright light. Move strong seedlings into individual pots, keep them in good light, and set them out when the weather and their size agree.
Our Take
It grows as a sturdy, upright annual, so its place in the garden is easy to plan. Fresh seed sown into evenly moist compost is most of the battle won.
Related Reading
More species in the same orbit as Glutinous Rice: