Wild rice (Zizania palustris L.), Poaceae is native to North America and grows predominantly in the Great Lakes region in shallow lakes and rivers (Martin and Uhler 1939). This large-seeded species, one of four species of wild rice has been gathered, dried (Fig. 1), and eaten by people since prehistoric times (Johnson 1969). Early North American inhabitants, especially the Ojibway, Menomini, and Cree tribes in the North Central region of the continent, used the grain as a staple food and introduced European fur traders to wild rice (Jenks 1901). Manomin, the name they gave wild rice, means good berry. Early English explorers called this aquatic plant wild rice or Indian rice, while the French saw a resemblance to oats and called it folle avoine (Steeves 1952). Other names given to wild rice include Canadian rice, squaw rice, water oats, blackbird oats, and marsh oats. However, the name "wild rice" persisted and today it is the common name for the genus Zizania, even though the wild type of rice (Oryza) is also called wild rice.