Leersia

{{short description|Genus of plants}}

{{Automatic taxobox

|name = cutgrasses

|image = Leersia hexandra.jpg

|image_caption = Leersia hexandra

|display_parents = 3

|taxon = Leersia

|authority = Sw. 1788 not Hedw. ex Batsch 1802 (moss in family Encalyptaceae)

|type_species = Leersia oryzoides

|type_species_authority = (L.) Sw.

|synonyms_ref = [http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=422059 Kew World checklist of Selected Plant Families]

|synonyms = *Homalocenchrus Mieg

• Ehrhartia Weber
• Asprella Schreb.
• Aplexia Raf.
• Endodia Raf.
• Blepharochloa Endl.
• Pseudoryza Griff.

}}

Leersia is a genus of plants in the grass family which includes species known generally as cutgrasses.[https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/376721#page/29/mode/1up Swartz, Olof. 1788. Nova Genera et Species Plantarum seu Prodromus 21] in Latin[http://www.tropicos.org/Name/40003289 Tropicos, Leersia Sw.]

The genus is widespread across many countries on all the inhabited continents.[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=117845 Flora of China Vol. 22 Page 184 假稻属 jia dao shu Leersia Solander ex Swartz, Prodr. 21. 1788. ][http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=117845 Flora of Pakistan][http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/floraspecie.php?genere=leersia Altervista Flora Italiana genere leersia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201022442/http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/floraspecie.php?genere=Leersia |date=2015-02-01 }}[http://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:apni.taxon:575466 Atlas of Living Australia, Leersia Sw. Cutgrass][http://redlist.sanbi.org/genus.php?genus=1384 Sanbi Red List of South African Plants][http://bonap.net/NAPA/TaxonMaps/Genus/County/Leersia Biota of North America Program 2013 county distribution maps]Pohl, R. W. & G. Davidse. 1994. 25. Leersia Sw., nom. cons. 6: 221–222. In G. Davidse, M. Sousa Sánchez & A.O. Chater (eds.) Flora Mesoamericana. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, D.F.Zon, A. P. M. v. 1992. Graminées du Cameroun. Wageningen Agricultural University Papers 92–1(2): 1–557

It was named for the German botanist Johann Daniel Leers (1727-1774).{{Cite web |url=http://www.eeob.iastate.edu/research/iowagrasses/speciespages/LeersOryzo/LeersOryzo.html |title=Ada Hayden Herbarium - Iowa State University, rice cutgrass (cutgrass), Leersia oryzoides (L.) Sw. |access-date=2015-02-21 |archive-date=2017-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001095756/http://www.eeob.iastate.edu/research/IowaGrasses/speciespages/LeersOryzo/LeersOryzo.html |url-status=dead }}

; Species

• Leersia angustifolia Prodoehl - Sudan
• Leersia denudata Launert - from Kenya to Cape Province
• Leersia drepanothrix Stapf - from Guinea to Uganda
• Leersia friesii Melderis - from Uganda to Botswana
• Leersia hexandra Sw. - Africa, Eurasia, Australian, North + South America, various islands
• Leersia japonica (Honda) Honda - China, Japan, Korea
• Leersia lenticularis Michx. - central + eastern USA
• Leersia ligularis Trin. - Latin America + West Indies from Coahuila to Paraguay
• Leersia monandra Sw. - Texas, Florida, Mexico, West Indies
• Leersia nematostachya Launert - Cameroon, Angola, Zambia
• Leersia oncothrix C.E.Hubb. - Zambia
• Leersia oryzoides (L.) Sw. - Eurasia (from Azores to Primorye), North America (Canada, USA, northeastern Mexico)
• Leersia perrieri (A.Camus) Launert - Madagascar
• Leersia sayanuka Ohwi - China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam
• Leersia stipitata Bor - Thailand
• Leersia tisserantii (A.Chev.) Launert - from Guinea to Namibia
• Leersia triandra C.E.Hubb. - Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cameroon
• Leersia virginica Willd. - eastern Canada, eastern + central USA

; formerly included

see Arthraxon Digitaria Hygroryza Maltebrunia Megastachya

• Leersia aristata - Hygroryza aristata
• Leersia digitaria - Digitaria ciliaris
• Leersia disticha - Megastachya mucronata
• Leersia hispida - Arthraxon hispidus
• Leersia latifolia - Maltebrunia leersioides