Southern Cutgrass
Leersia hexandra
- Native to:
- Algeria, Andaman Is., Angola, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Borneo, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Canary Is., Caprivi Strip, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, DR Congo, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., Guyana, Hainan, Haiti, Honduras, India, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jawa, Kenya, Laos, Lebanon-Syria, Leeward Is., Lesotho, Lesser Sunda Is., Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaya, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, New Guinea, Nicaragua, Nicobar Is., Niger, Nigeria, Palestine, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan-South Sudan, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad-Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United States, Uruguay, Vietnam, Windward Is.,
Macleay Grass Man (www.flickr.com)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Leersia
- Species:
- Leersia hexandra
- USDA Symbol:
- LEHE
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- green
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- waterfowl, wading birds, small mammals
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from rhizomes following fire in wetland margins.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, waterlogged, clayey soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- commonly found in wetlands and marshes
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best in saturated or flooded conditions with warm temperatures.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI