Leersia

Contains 5 accepted taxa overall.

Characteristics
Leersia Sw.
POACEAE
CUTGRASS
View USF Herbarium specimens of this family
Classification
POALES
Leersia
Citation
LEERSIA Swartz, Prodr. 1, 21. 1788, nom. cons. vs. Homalocenchrus Mieg 1760.
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TYPE: Leersia oryzoides (Linnaeus) Swartz, typ. cons. (Phalaris oryzoides Linnaeus)
Distribution Map Present

This species have been reported in the counties highlighted.

Species
Scientific Name Common Name Herbarium Specimens Status Photos
Leersia hexandra SOUTHERN CUTGRASS Native OBL (NWPL) OD (WAP) OBL (DEP)
Leersia lenticularis CATCHFLYGRASS Native OBL (NWPL) OBL (DEP)
Leersia monandra BUNCH CUTGRASS Native UPL (NWPL) OBL (DEP)
Leersia oryzoides RICE CUTGRASS Native OBL (NWPL) OBL (DEP)
Leersia virginica WHITEGRASS Native FACW (NWPL) OBL (DEP)
Identification Key
1.  Cespitose; spikelets 1.5-2 mm long, glabrous
L. monandra
1.  Rhizomatous; spikelets 2.5-6.5 mm long, the margins usually ciliate
2
2.  Spikelets 2.7-3.5(4) mm wide
L. lenticularis
2.  Spikelets 0.5-2 mm wide
3
3.  Rhizome scales imbricate; inflorescence branches solitary at nodes; spikelets 2.4-3.3(3.6) mm long; anthers 2
L. virginica
3.  Rhizome scales lacking or not imbricate; inflorescence branches 2-4 at the proximal nodes; spikelets 3.2-6.5 mm long; anthers 3 or 6
4
4.  Inflorescence exserted, 5-15 cm long, branches appressed to ascending, spikelet-bearing to near the base; spikelets 3.2-4.7(5) mm long; anthers 6
L. hexandra
4.  Inflorescence exserted or enclosed partly by the leaf sheath, 10-30 cm long, branches spreading when exserted, naked on the lower 1/3; spikelets (4)4.2-6.5 mm long; anthers 3
L. oryzoides
Genus Synonyms
Synonym Full Citation Basionym Type
Aplexia Aplexia Rafinesque, Neogenyton 4. 1825. TYPE: Leersia virginica (Linnaeus) Swartz
Asprella Asprella Schreber, Gen. Pl. 45. 1789. TYPE: = Homalocenchrus Mieg 1760, nom. rej. = Leersia Swartz 1788, nom. cons.
Blepharochloa Blepharochloa Endlicher, Gen. Pl. 1352. 1840. TYPE: Pharus ciliatus Retzius
Ehrhartia Ehrhartia F. H. Wiggers, Prim. Fl. Hols. 63. 1780, non Ehrhardia Scopoli 1777, nec Ehrharta Thunberg 1779. TYPE: Ehrhartia clandestina F. H. Wiggers, nom. illegit. (Phalaris oryzoides Linnaeus) = Homalocenchrus Mieg 1760, nom. rej. = Leersia Swartz 1788, nom. cons.
Endodia Endodia Rafinesque, Neogenyton 4. 1825. TYPE: Leersia lenticularis Michaux
Homalocenchrus Homalocenchrus Mieg, Acta Helv. Phys.-Math. 4: 307. 1760, nom. rej. vs. Leersia Swartz 1788. TYPE: = Leersia Swartz 1788.
Laertia Laertia Gromov, Trudy Obsh. Nauk Kharkov. Univ. 1: 141. 1817. TYPE: = Leersia Swartz 1788, nom. cons.
Pseudoryza Pseudoryza Griffith, Ic. Pl. Asiat. 3: t. 144(2). 1851. TYPE: Pseudoryza ciliata (Retzius) Griffith (Pharus ciliatus Retzius)