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| ## rice cutgrass {#rice-cutgrass .Title-Header}                       |
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| *Leersia oryzoides* (L.) Sw.                                          |
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| Plant Symbol = LEOR                                                   |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Corvallis, Oregon

##### Alternate Names {#alternate-names .Header-3}

##### Plant synonyms include *Homalocenchrus oryzoides* (L.) Pollich, and *Phalaris oryzoides* L. Another common name is sickle grass.

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

Rice cutgrass is valuable for wildlife habitat improvement, wetland
restoration, and erosion control in ditches and other watercourses. The
seeds are an important food source for waterfowl, small mammals, and
shorebirds. Ducks pull up and consume underground stems (rhizomes).
Dense colonies provide cover and habitat for fish, reptiles, and
amphibians. The forage produced is highly palatable. This plant's
creeping rhizomes and spreading habit are good for sediment
stabilization along the immediate shorelines of streams and lakes.
Tolerant of highly acidic conditions (pH=3), the species is being
studied for use in constructed wetlands and the treatment of acid mine
drainage. It may have potential for vegetated drainage ditches that
mitigate agricultural runoff, including pesticides.

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator
values).![](media/image3.jpeg){width="2.9784722222222224in"
height="3.951388888888889in"}

##### Description and Adaptation {#description-and-adaptation .Header-3}

Rice cutgrass is a native cool season grass that grows and flowers
comparatively late in summer. The seed ripens in late August to early
October, more typical of a warm season species. This short to medium
lived perennial spreads by scaly, underground rhizomes and often forms
dense colonies. The stalks (stems) are upright to sprawling, velvety at
the nodes (joints), and 90 to 125 (150) cm tall. Leaf blades are 7 to 30
cm long, 6 to 15 (20) mm wide, and yellow-green in color. They have a
coarse or rough upper surface and are lined with tiny teeth along the
margins. The flowerhead (panicle) is open, often drooping, and 10 to 20
cm long. Some panicles remain enclosed within the lower leaf sheaths and
release seeds upon decay of the stem. The seed hull is covered with
minute bristles that readily cling to clothing or fur for dispersal.
Rice cutgrass is widespread across southern Canada and most of the
United States. It is also found in the warmer parts of Europe.

*Key to identification:* This grass is quickly identified by running a
hand through it. The sharp leaves can cut flesh and tear weaker
clothing. They are abrasive and sandpapery to the touch. Seeds resemble
rice and are not easily confused with other native grasses. The
spikelets hang in a single row creating a 1-sided appearance to each
panicle branch. Rice cutgrass can easily be confused with two other
species of *Leersia* commonly found in North America. Consult botanical
keys for proper ID.

*Relative abundance in the wild:* Rice cutgrass is occasional to very
abundant. Once stands are located, seed is easily stripped by hand.
Retention of seed is fair at best. Seed shatters (drops) readily at
maturity.

*Adaptation:* Rice cutgrass can be found in a variety of wet, sunny, and
partially shaded sites. However, it is most common near streams, ponds,
or beaver areas, and in ditches, canals, or freshwater marshes. This
species thrives best in nutrient rich mud and slow moving or stagnant
water. Seedlings may not survive submergence for more than 2 to 3 days,
while mature plants easily tolerate seasonal to permanent flooding.
Reportedly, this grass can grow in standing water up to 0.5 (15 cm), 1
ft (30 cm) or 3 ft (1 meter) deep.

It can be found in other habitats where soils are saturated at or near
the surface year round or continuously moist in summer. It occasionally
co-exists with reed canarygrass (*Phalaris arundinacea*) on wetter
sites, but is much less broadly adapted. Soils may range from acid to
alkaline \[pH (3) 5.1 to 8.8\] sands, silts, loams, or clays. For
natural regeneration, rice cutgrass needs bare mud and an open
vegetative structure created by seasonal inundation and regular
disturbance.

##### Establishment![](media/image4.jpeg){width="1.7916666666666667in" height="2.01875in"} {#establishment .Header-3}

Rice cutgrass seed possesses physiological dormancy requiring a 180 to
270 day period of cool, moist stratification (moist chilling). Gentle
scarification (abrasion of the seed coat after hull removal) may improve
germination as well. Late summer or early fall seeding is recommended.
Seeds will germinate the following spring. There are approximately
360,000 seeds/lb (+/- 20%). A seeding rate of 1 lb/acre of pure live
seeds will result in 8 live seeds per square foot. Rarely sown alone due
to cost, it typically comprises 1 to 20% of a seed mix. Rhizomes,
rootstock, and container plants are also used for establishment. A
spacing of 1 to 3 feet

(30-90 cm) will achieve uniform ground coverage in

1 to 3 years respectively. Rhizomes should be planted 2 to 5 inches
(5-12 cm) deep.

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

Plants develop relatively slowly in spring, becoming most productive
during the summer. The seed matures in late August or September and the
plants go dormant soon after (October-November). Stand maintenance or
proliferation requires adequate soil fertility, regular flooding, and
soil disturbance every two to three years to create open areas. For
wildlife enhancement, this species is well suited to moist soil
management techniques (slow summer de-watering, soil disking, etc.)
applied to certain wetlands and shallow water impoundments. In some
cases, disturbance and regeneration have been promoted by grazing
cattle.

##### Environmental Concerns {#environmental-concerns .Header-3}

Rice cutgrass has a narrow ecological adaptation and may not persist
well. However, it is also a weed in some situations, including
commercial cranberry beds (bogs) in the Pacific Northwest and Northeast.
It is sometimes considered a weed in the Southeast as well. This species
can form dense colonies to the potential exclusion of other native marsh
grasses and herbs. However, under undisturbed conditions it is regularly
replaced by other species. The abrasive leaves may cause skin injury.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

Seed sources can be hard to locate for Oregon, Washington, and
California. Container plants and rootstock are somewhat more common. It
is readily available in the Midwestern states from seed producers and
nurseries.

##### Prepared By:  {#prepared-by .Header-3}

*Dale Darris* and *Amy Bartow*, USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center,
Corvallis, Oregon.

##### Species Coordinator:  {#species-coordinator .Header-3}

*Dale Darris*, USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

##### Edited: 21mar2006 jsp, 16sept2008 dcd; 080917 jsp {#edited-21mar2006-jsp-16sept2008-dcd-080917-jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
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