Zizania latifolia has a long history of cultivation in China, and it has been introduced and distributed widely in various places. Moreover, due to the variation of Zizania latifolia and parasitic smut fungus, the species can be changed, so there are many variation types, many local varieties formed through selection, and the variety resources are very rich. According to the pregnancy season, the types of Zizania latifolia can be divided into one-season Zizania latifolia and two-season Zizania latifolia. According to the temperature requirements of pregnancy, it can be divided into high temperature pregnancy (high temperature resistance) and low temperature pregnancy (low temperature resistance); According to the shape of fleshy stems, it can be divided into wax platform type and shuttle type.

Zizania latifolia in the Yangtze River basin is generally divided into single-season Zizania latifolia and double-season Zizania latifolia according to its different pregnancy season and maturity period, and each type has many local varieties.