We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Triglochin maritima - L.

Common Name Sea Arrow Grass
Family Juncaginaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards The green leaves of plants can contain a toxic cyanogenic glycoside, it is especially present during and just after a drought and is particularly toxic to ruminants[76, 85]. Plants growing in Britain are usually perfectly safe, this is probably due to the climate[76].
Habitats Salt marshes and grassy places near the sea[9, 17].
Range Europe, including Britain, from the Arctic south and east to N. Africa, W. and N. Asia. N. America.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Wet Soil Water Plants Full sun
Triglochin maritima Sea Arrow Grass


commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Pichard
Triglochin maritima Sea Arrow Grass
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Triglochin_maritima_Lindman_cropped.png

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Triglochin maritima is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline and saline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers wet soil and can grow in water. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Triglochin elata. Triglochin elatum. Triglochin maritimum

Plant Habitats

 Pond; Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed  Stem
Edible Uses: Coffee

The white base of the leaf stem can be eaten raw or cooked[46, 61, 85, 103]. Best harvested in late spring, the white base has a pleasant mild sweet taste, somewhat like cucumber[256]. An unpleasant odour is produced whilst the plant is being cooked[74]. The green parts of the plant should not be eaten since they can contain a toxin[172]. Only the bases of leaf stems should be used, and not the bases of flowering stems[256]. See notes at top of the page. Seed - parched and ground into a powder[85, 105, 161, 172, 257]. The roasted seed is a coffee substitute[161, 172, 212].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Soap making

The ashes of the plant are rich in potassium and can be used in making soap[74].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in shallow water or a bog garden[200]. Possibly requires saline conditions[K].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe if this is possible. Stand the pots in about 2cm of water. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring[200]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia), Russian Federation-Eastern Siberia (Eastern Siberia), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Russian Federation-Far East (Far East (south)), China (north), Korea, Japan TROPICAL ASIA: Bhutan, India (north), Nepal, Pakistan (north) NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Northwest Territories, Yukon, Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia), United States (Alaska, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah), Mexico (Baja California (Norte), Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, México) EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Russian Federation (European part), Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Russian Federation (Astrakhan, Saratov, Volgogradskaja oblast), Ukraine (incl. Krym), Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain (incl. Baleares), France, Portugal

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Triglochin palustrisMarsh Arrow GrassPerennial0.5 4-8  LMHNWeWa20 
Triglochin proceraWater RibbonsPerennial0.6 -  LMHNWeWa10 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Triglochin maritima  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.