Rice Cutgrass is a native wetland grass resembling rice in appearance, with long, rough-edged leaves that can cut exposed skin — giving it the common name. Found in shallow water, marshes, and stream margins across North America, it grows 2–5 feet tall and forms dense colonies by rhizomes. The small grains are an important food for a wide variety of wetland birds. Rice Cutgrass is a pioneer colonizer of newly exposed wet sediments along rivers and lake shores.
Best time to see a Rice Cutgrass
The best time to see a Rice Cutgrass is August–September, when about 69% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 1,033 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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Recent Rice Cutgrass sightings near you
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