Oryza glaberrima, commonly known as African rice, is an annual grass and one of the two domesticated rice species. It was first domesticated in the inland delta of the Upper Niger River and grown in West Africa around 3,000 years ago. African rice is adapted to a variety of wetland habitats, including floodplains, riverbanks, and shallow waters, where it is traditionally cultivated in rain-fed systems without extensive soil preparation. This species typically grows under 120 cm but can reach up to five meters for floating varieties, which are adapted to deep-water conditions. It has a distinctive morphology with small, pear-shaped grains, reddish bran, and green to black hulls. The panicles are straight and simply-branched, and the ligules are short and rounded.

African rice is valued for its resilience to challenging growing conditions. It is drought- and deep-water-resistant, tolerates fluctuations in water depth, iron toxicity, infertile soils, severe climatic conditions, and human neglect better than Asian rice (Oryza sativa). It is mostly rain-watered, and the soil is often left uncultivated. In cultivation, it thrives in full sun, with medium to high water requirements, and prefers soils with medium drainage. While not as high-yielding as Asian rice, African rice is still grown for its cultural significance and genetic potential for breeding programs aimed at improving stress tolerance. It is also used in traditional dishes and has potential medicinal uses.CC BY-SA 4.0