Texas Wild-rice (Zizania texana) - Texas Status - U.S. Status -
Endangered, Listed 4/26/1978 - Texas wild-rice has long green
leaves up to 45 inches in length and 1/4 to 1 inch wide. Rice
"seeds" are black or brown. - Life History - Texas wild-rice is
an aquatic perennial grass found only in the upper two miles of
the San Marcos River in central Texas. It is related to the
wild-rice grown for human food. On a sunny day, this plant's
bright green leaves can be seen waving in the current near the
river bottom in areas where the water is clean and clear. 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. Because more
people are using water, less underground water is flowing from
the springs. Nutria, a non-native rodent that lives in wetland
areas, is also a threat because it eats the wild-rice. - This
plant grows in clear flowing spring-fed waters. - This species
grows in the San Mar