Swamp ricegrass (Leersia hexandra, Prodr. Veg. Ind. Occ.: 21 (1788))

Family: Poaceae

Author: Sw.

Bibliography: Prodr. Veg. Ind. Occ.: 21 (1788)

Year: 1788

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Leersia

Vegetable: False

Observations: Tropics & Subtropics

Description

Swamp ricegrass, scientifically known as Leersia hexandra, is a notable species within the Poaceae family. This plant was first documented in the botanical literature “Prodr. Veg. Ind. Occ.: 21” published in 1788 by the botanist Sw., making its scientific classification and description rooted in historical botanical exploration.

Leersia hexandra, commonly referred to as swamp ricegrass, is predominantly found in tropical and subtropical regions across the globe. This resilient grass thrives in wet, swampy habitats where it often forms dense stands. It is particularly well-adapted to environments with fluctuating water levels, making it a crucial species for maintaining soil stability and preventing erosion in flood-prone areas.

Adapted to warm climates, swamp ricegrass plays an important ecological role in its native habitats. It provides habitat and food for various wildlife species, contributing to the biodiversity and ecological balance of these regions. Additionally, its robust growth characteristics make it beneficial for use in ecological restoration projects, especially in wetlands and rehabilitated mined areas, where establishing vegetation quickly is essential.

The unique attributes of Leersia hexandra, alongside its ecological significance, accentuate the broader importance of plant diversity within the Poaceae family and the critical functions these species serve in their natural ecosystems.

Common Names

Eng: cutgrass, swamp ricegrass, southern cut grass
Por: grama-boiadeira, grama-do-brejo
Ara: shillakh, shullekh
En: Swamp ricegrass, Cutgrass, Southern cutgrass, Southern Cut Grass, Rice grass, Club-head Cutgrass
Ar: Shillakh, Shullekh, شليخ (شُلِّيخ)
Fr: Léersie faux Riz
He: בת-אורז משושה
Pt: Grama-boiadeira, Grama-do-brejo, Arroz bravo, Boiadera, Capim-marreca
Pt-br: Boiadeira, Capim-marreca, Grama-boiadeira, Grama-do-brejo
Es: Arroz de Cayenna

Synonyms

• Asprella australis ((R.Br.) Roem. & Schult.)
• Leersia griffithiana (Müll.Hal.)
• Leersia brasiliensis (Spreng.)
• Leersia capensis (Müll.Hal.)
• Leersia gracilis (Willd. ex Trin.)
• Leersia ciliaris (Griff.)
• Leersia ferox (Fig. & De Not.)
• Leersia australis (R.Br.)
• Asprella brasiliensis ((Spreng.) Schult.)
• Leersia elongata (Willd. ex Trin.)
• Homalocenchrus gouinii ((E.Fourn.) Kuntze)
• Asprella purpurea (Bojer)
• Pseudoryza ciliata ((Retz.) Griff.)
• Hygroryza ciliata ((Retz.) Steud.)
• Leersia contracta (Nees)
• Leersia mauritiaca (Salzm. ex Trin.)
• Leersia abyssinica (Hochst. ex A.Rich.)
• Leersia aegyptiaca (Fig. & De Not.)
• Leersia luzonensis (J.Presl)
• Leersia mauritanica (Salzm. ex Trin.)
• Leersia triniana (Sieber ex Trin.)
• Oryza mexicana ((Kunth) Döll)
• Asprella hexandra ((Sw.) P.Beauv.)
• Oryza hexandra ((Sw.) Döll)
• Leersia ciliata ((Retz.) Roxb.)
• Leersia compressa (A.Chev.)
• Blepharochloa ciliata (Endl.)
• Pharus ciliatus (Retz.)
• Leersia parviflora (Desv.)
• Asprella mexicana ((Kunth) Roem. & Schult.)
• Leersia dubia (F.Aresch.)
• Homalocenchrus hexander ((Sw.) Kuntze)
• Oryza australis (R.Br. ex Schweinf.)
• Leersia glaberrima (Trin.)
• Leersia gouinii (E.Fourn.)
• Zizania ciliata ((Retz.) Spreng.)
• Leersia mexicana (Kunth)

Distribution

• Alabama (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Andaman Is. (native)
• Angola (native)
• Argentina Northeast (native)
• Argentina Northwest (native)
• Arkansas (native)
• Assam (native)
• Bangladesh (native)
• Belize (native)
• Benin (native)
• Bolivia (native)
• Borneo (native)
• Botswana (native)
• Brazil North (native)
• Brazil South (native)
• Brazil Southeast (native)
• Brazil West-Central (native)
• Burkina (native)
• Burundi (native)
• Cameroon (native)
• Cape Provinces (native)
• Caprivi Strip (native)
• Central African Repu (native)
• Chad (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Colombia (native)
• Congo (native)
• Costa Rica (native)
• Cuba (native)
• Dominican Republic (native)
• East Himalaya (native)
• Ecuador (native)
• Egypt (native)
• El Salvador (native)
• Eritrea (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• Florida (native)
• Free State (native)
• French Guiana (native)
• Gabon (native)
• Gambia (native)
• Georgia (native)
• Ghana (native)
• Guatemala (native)
• Guinea (native)
• Guinea-Bissau (native)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (native)
• Guyana (native)
• Hainan (native)
• Haiti (native)
• Honduras (native)
• India (native)
• Ivory Coast (native)
• Jamaica (native)
• Jawa (native)
• Kenya (native)
• KwaZulu-Natal (native)
• Laos (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Leeward Is. (native)
• Lesotho (native)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
• Liberia (native)
• Libya (native)
• Louisiana (native)
• Madagascar (native)
• Malawi (native)
• Malaya (native)
• Mali (native)
• Maryland (native)
• Mauritania (native)
• Mauritius (native)
• Mexico Central (native)
• Mexico Gulf (native)
• Mexico Northeast (native)
• Mexico Southeast (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• Mississippi (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Mozambique (native)
• Myanmar (native)
• Namibia (native)
• Nansei-shoto (native)
• Nepal (native)
• New Guinea (native)
• New South Wales (native)
• Nicaragua (native)
• Nicobar Is. (native)
• Niger (native)
• Nigeria (native)
• North Carolina (native)
• Northern Provinces (native)
• Northern Territory (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Panamá (native)
• Paraguay (native)
• Peru (native)
• Philippines (native)
• Puerto Rico (native)
• Queensland (native)
• Rwanda (native)
• Senegal (native)
• Sierra Leone (native)
• South Carolina (native)
• Sri Lanka (native)
• Sudan (native)
• Sulawesi (native)
• Sumatera (native)
• Suriname (native)
• Swaziland (native)
• Taiwan (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Tennessee (native)
• Texas (native)
• Thailand (native)
• Togo (native)
• Trinidad-Tobago (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Uganda (native)
• Uruguay (native)
• Venezuela (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• Virginia (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• Western Australia (native)
• Windward Is. (native)
• Zambia (native)
• Zaïre (native)
• Zimbabwe (native)
• California (introduced)
• Galápagos (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Aug 27, 2009 by OTS – Oviedo-Brenes, Federico (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jan 12, 2020 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 7, 2020 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 2, 2021 by Muluta João (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 7, 2020 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jul 15, 2015 by OTS – Oviedo-Brenes, Federico (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jul 15, 2015 by OTS – Oviedo-Brenes, Federico (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken May 18, 2015 by OTS – Oviedo-Brenes, Federico (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken May 18, 2015 by OTS – Oviedo-Brenes, Federico (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken May 18, 2015 by OTS – Oviedo-Brenes, Federico (cc-by-nc-sa)

Fruit

Taken Mar 13, 2022 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 13, 2022 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Bart Wursten (cc-by-nc)

Leaf

Taken Jan 12, 2020 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2702901)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:137026-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Leersia hexandra Sw.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Graminoid

Growth