Triglochin maritima


Temp. Northern Hemisphere, S. South America as per WCSP

Triglochin maritima is a species of flowering plant in the arrowgrass family Juncaginaceae. It is found in brackish marshes, freshwater marshes, wet sandy beaches, fens, damp grassland and bogs. It has a circumboreal distribution, occurring throughout the northern Northern Hemisphere. In the British Isles it is common on the coast, but very rare inland.

It is like marsh arrowgrass (Triglochin palustris) but has the following differences: it has stolons, is stouter. The leaves are fleshy and not furrowed above. It is not very aromatic. The raceme are more dense and like sea plantain. The flowers are fleshier. The fruits are oval, 4 mm long, 2 mm wide.[1]
It varies in height from 8-30 inches (to 45 cm). It flowers in May to August; flowers are greenish, 3 petalled, edged with purple, 1/8 inch (2mm) across, in a long spike.[2] [3]
Common names include seaside arrowgrass,[4] common arrowgrass, sea arrowgrass and shore arrowgrass.
It can be an annual or perennial. [5]

(from Wikipedia on 19.10.16)



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Ladakh flora 10 : 4 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (2)

Id of the plant pl. Pl excuse me if it is sent for id before, I don`t remember.

Thanks, … First image is too small. Also give more details.

Sending 2 more images. No other details pl.

I think this comes within Triglochin maritima–  found in the UK where it is known as ‘Sea Arrow-grass’, found in salt marsh turf and grassy places on rocky shores also Europe to the Arctic, N.Africa, W. & N. Asia, N.America.
Stewart recorded it from brackish marshes @ 2400-4800m in Ladakh.
‘Flora of Lahaul-Spiti’ describe it as rare in glacial moraines (which is likely to be a mistake). But the flowers are similar to those of T.palustris – there seem to be more in this raceme than found in T.palustris.  In the UK leaves of T.palustris are deeply furrowed on the upper surface, towards base but one cannot see any leaves in the photos.
T.palustris known as ‘Marsh Arrow-grass’ is also found in the UK. This is found in Ladakh. ‘Flora of Lahaul-Spiti’ have this as common in fresh water marshes, which makes sense.
The two species are easily distinguished in fruit, the latter species usually being thinner, more delicate.