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This study was conducted to investigate the chemical components of culm that influencing the resistance to lodging and the in vitro digestibility in indica type rice plants. Indica type rice plants with three levels of lodging resistance were used; resistant type (RT), intermediate type (IT) and susceptible type (ST). For each type there were four varieties. Culm length was shorter in RT and longer in ST (98.1 cm vs. 151.8 cm). Silica content in the culm was highest in RT and lowest in ST (11.0% vs. 7.6%). There was no difference in the level of acid detergent lignin (ADL) between the 3 levels of lodging. For the 12 straw samples, in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) was negatively correlated with silica content (r = -0.664, p<0.05) but ADL had no significant effect (r = -0.454, p>0.05). Digestibility was more closely correlated with the sum of silica and ADL (r = -0.747, p<0.01) than silica alone. It was concluded that rice plants showed resistance to lodging when the culm was short and its structure was reinforced with larger quantities of silica. However these silicified straws were less digestible.