Family: Poaceae 

Synonym: Oryza glutinosa Lour.                            

Bengali/Vernacular name: Dhan, Chaul, Chal.

Tribal name: Cho (Khumi), Bohecli (Lushai), Mi (Murang), Chang (Pangkhoa), Chaa-bah (Rakhaing).

English name: Rice.

Description of the Plant: An annual or rarely perennial grass, culms 60-150 cm tall, tufted, erect, rooting at the nodes. Leaf blade linear-lanceolate or linear, acuminate, flat, sheaths ciliate along the margin. Inflorescence a laxly panicle, 10-30 cm long.  Fruit (grain) is enclosed in, but not adhering to, persistent pales, oblong, ovoid, or oblong-ovoid, smooth, and somewhat compressed.

Plant parts Used: Seed, root.

Traditional Uses: Boiled rice is very useful in disorganized digestion, in bowel derangements and in diarrhea.
Decoction of roots and rhizomes is used for anuria treatment.
Extracts of brown rice have been used to treat warts, breast and stomach cancers.
Paste prepared from the grain by boiled, drained and mashed then it is applied to boil, sore, swelling, and skin blemish to cure it.
Decoction prepared from the rhizomes is taken internally in the treatment of night sweats, especially in cases of tuberculosis and chronic pneumonia.
Poultice of soft rice is applied to back and chest for cough and bronchitis.
Powder prepared from rice is used for skin ailments.
Extracts of rice have been used to treat breast and stomach cancer.

Distribution: Rice abundantly cultivated throughout the country except Sundarbans.

Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….

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