Zizaniopsis miliacea

Giant cut grass

Native to Florida

Species Overview

This very large grass might be noticed growing in profusion in the water and on the wet shores of lakes and rivers. Don’t walk through it! It may be confused with wild-rice; look at the inflorescences. It provides nesting, cover and seeds to wildlife.

Species Characteristics

Giant cut grass is a very large grass. Stems thick, to 10 ft. tall; leaf blades flat, broad, to 30 in.long, to 1 1/2 in. wide, smooth, margins very sharp; inflorescences large, to 2 ft. long, to several inches wide, many branchlets, widely spreading; spikelets numerous; fruit ovoid grain, yellow.

Impacts