Wild Rice

Silver lake has a health population of wild rice.

Wild Rice

Wild rice (also called "Canada rice", "Indian rice", and "water oats") are four species of grasses forming the genus Zizania, and the grain that can be harvested from them. The grain was historically gathered and eaten in both North America and China. While now a delicacy in North America, the grain is eaten less in China, where the plant's stem is used as a vegetable. Wild-rice grains have a chewy outer sheath with a tender inner grain that has a slightly vegetal taste. The plants grow in shallow water in small lakes and slow-flowing streams; often, only the flowering head of wild rice rises above the water. The grain is eaten by dabbling ducks and other aquatic wildlife, as well as by humans.

See the recent survey of wild rice in Silver Lake. According to the watershed district, it is the only urban lake in Minnesota with wild rice – another reason why our little lake is so special.