Triglochin

Scientific name

Triglochin L.

Common names

water ribbon, arrow grass

Family

Juncaginaceae

Similar genera

Crinum, Eleocharis, Isoetes, Vallisneria, Xyris

Native distribution

cosmopolitancosmopolitan:
(adj) essentially worldwide in distribution

Species cultivated

Triglochin procera R. Br. [often offered as T. procerum]

Adventive distribution

Triglochin bulbosa L. is introduced into Australia.

T. striata Ruiz & Pav. is introduced into Portugal.

Weed status

not weedy

Habit

submersed, floating, attached rosetterosette:
(n) a radiating cluster of leaves, usually close to the ground at the base of a plant
plant

Brief description

Perennial. Stem compact, attached to submergedsubmerged:
(adj) (syn. submersed) under water; submerged below the water surface
substrate. Root tubers present. Leaves in a rosetterosette:
(n) a radiating cluster of leaves, usually close to the ground at the base of a plant
, ribbon-like, spongy at least basally; marginmargin:
(n) edge; rim
entireentire:
(adj) having a continuous margin that is not toothed or lobed
. Inflorescenceinflorescence:
(n) the arrangement of flowers on the floral axis
an elongate spikespike:
(n) an indeterminate, unbranching inflorescence of sessile flowers or flower clusters on a usually elongated axis
. Perianthperianth:
(n) collective term for the calyx and corolla of a flower; also used for floral whorl(s) in which the calyx and corolla cannot be resolved; any of the leaves or bracts surrounding the sex organs of bryophytes
segments 6, concave, inconspicuous; stigmasstigmas:
(n) the portion of the pistil that is receptive to pollen
plumoseplumose:
(adj) (of hairs or bristles) fine, feather-like
. Dispersal by seed.

Natural habitat

streams, rivers, and swamps

Additional comments

A cosmopolitancosmopolitan:
(adj) essentially worldwide in distribution
genus with around 25 species, of which about ten are aquatic. Triglochin dubium R. Br., from northern Australia, has narrower leaves than T. procerum and is not cultivated for aquaria or ponds. Triglochin microtuberosum Aston and T. multifructum Aston were formerly included in T. procerum R. Br.

Recent taxonomic changes based on phylogenetic evidence suggest that some species of Triglochin should be moved to genera such as Maundia, Bulbine, Cycnogeton and Tetroncium.